By Patson Chilemba
Fourth Republican president Rupiah Banda’s son, Andrew, says he is on his knees pleading with the nation to pray for his father to pull through “the very difficult time he is going through.”
And Andrew said president Banda is not only his father, but “the father of the nation”, hailing his contribution towards public service and the role he played in bringing President Hakainde Hichilema and his immediate predecessor Edgar Lungu together.
Asked by Daily Revelation on his father’s 85th birthday and the fact that he is in Dubai undergoing medical attention right now, Andrew had one request for the Zambian people.
He said the former president was discharged from hospital yesterday. He has been battling colon cancer.
“And also I am requesting all Zambians to pray for the old man. I am on my knees that we pray for him that he pulls through this very difficult time that he is going through,” Andrew said. “I would have loved that he was at his best but you know only God knows why he’s in that situation. And I want to assure the rest of the country that that father of ours, not that father of Andrew, please, quote me right, he’s a very strong man.”
He expressed confidence that his father would pull through.
“I get updates every day from my brother who is there, who is caring for him for all of us. He was discharged from hospital yesterday, of course he needs to rest but we cannot control what is going on but we are depending on his (God’s) strength. And every time I speak to him I am inspired by his strength to stay focused, stay strong the way he is,” Andrew said. “It is sad that he is in that situation, but we can’t control that it’s God. But I believe myself, I believe that as his progeny he will pull through and join us soon.”
He said he found himself in an awkward position to speak on his own behalf on the former president’s birthday as he was not only his father but “he’s the father of the nation and he’s the only one that we have after the demise of the first Republican president.”
“I want to say first of all I want to wish my father a very long life, good health, all the best in his endevours now and in future. He has been an inspiration to me, not only myself to my brothers, to my grandchildren, to his great grand children and an inspiration indeed to the whole country because of the role he has played over the years. He was involved in the struggle for independence, he then served in the first government as ambassador at different levels, in different countries let me say,” Andrew said. “His first appointment was I think in Egypt and then he went to America then he went to everywhere. I am very proud of his achievements myself. Then he also served as president of this country, before that as vice-president. He is one of those that actually had gone through the mill. Before that he was minister of Foreign Affairs. Then rose to vice-president then vice-president to President.”
Andrew said his father has gone through the “mill”.
“And yes he exited out of office as president but at the time that he exited the economy of this country was ticking, inflation was below 7 percent, the exchange rate was K4.6 or something or somewhere there (to USD1), mealie meal was K36, fertilizer was a K100. Correct? Economic growth was 7 percent. So we saw it all he has done the best he could,” said Andrew. “And also just recently the role he played in bringing president Lungu and president Hakainde Hichilema together, for me I think is admirable. For me it is admirable because just imagine for a second that he was not consulted and for instance if he took sides. What would have happened to this country? So I would like to thank him for that.”
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