By Merlyn Mwanza
Late founding president Dr Kenneth Kaunda’s first born child Colonel Panji Kaunda has told opposition leaders and President Edgar Lungu to rein in their supporters who were almost tearing the country apart with violence.
And President said those speaking ill of the country were not being patriotic.Speaking during the state funeral Church service at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross earlier today, Col Panji said what he has learnt from his father’s passing on was that each one had a role to play, be it while alive or in death.
He said much as Dr Kaunda would have loved to live three more years until he was 100 years old, God saw it fit to call him as the county was tearing itself apart from political violence and tribalism, vices he said do not build the country.Col Panji said God took him away because had he lived on, probably the country he loved would have been no more because of the worrying pace it was moving at.
He said he had noticed that violent incidences had gone down since the death of Dr Kaunda, saying he hoped from now onwards the country would live as One Zambia One Nation, as Zambia was the only country “we have on earth.”“My colleagues in the opposition there and my President here its your responsibility to rein in your supporters who were almost tearing this country,” said Col Panji.
And President Lungu has declared April 28, the day on which Dr Kaunda was born a public holiday going forward.He said he was delighted that he had seen most of the opposition leaders this afternoon.“God bless you,” President Lungu said of the opposition leaders in attendance.President Lungu said the country shall forever celebrate Dr Kaunda’s life, his standing etched in our history and told to generations.
He said Dr Kaunda was a champion of love and unity, and that the country should emulate his character and good works.President Lungu said “despising your country” each day and night was not patriotism, as patriotism means speaking well of one’s country.
Opposition UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema described Dr Kaunda as a great man, who sent people to school free of charge and treated people equitably without segregating. He said Dr Kaunda tried to develop the country, and that is what needed to be emulated.
