By Staff Reporter
Tensions have flared up in the family of late fourth Republican president Rupiah Banda over the handling of his remains.
But family spokesperson Fisho Mwale said such news has not come his way, and that such “innuendos were characteristic of most funerals.”
Insiders familiar with the matter have told Daily Revelation that one group composed of the traditional leadership and some family members is desirous that the body of the late fourth president be taken to his farm in Chipata, where most of the family contingent is based. However, another group want all the matters to be handled in Lusaka, in line with the government’s programme.
“The issue is that among the nine children there are actually those who are in agreement to respect the traditional way of mourning an elderly figure like Rupiah Banda in the family, who feel that his body should be taken around the country as has been done with the other presidents or at least allow his body to be taken to the village, his farm where it will lie in state for even a night and then brought back to Lusaka for burial,” sources said. “They are pushing that at minimum he must at least be taken to Chipata, and also that the body is taken to Mulungushi for people to pay their last respect. It’s causing a bit of tension even among the children and we are trying to manage it in a very good way. Of course the other family members, children included want things handled here.”
The source said those who want the body in Eastern Province argue that there is no better place where the former president can be celebrated than in that province.
“And looking at the transport logistics not many people from Eastern Province, particularly his family members and family ties, who are a lot will manage to come through and mourn from here,” the sources said.
Contacted for comment over this matter, one of president Banda’s sons, Andrew, said he had no comment and referred the matter to family spokesperson Fisho Mwale.
When contacted, Mwale said he had no idea about such information, saying “that type of information or news has not come our way. So I don’t know which family member they are talking about. Those in innuendos are characteristic of most funerals…this was a giant of a man.”
Mwale said this was a state funeral which was being handled under the State Funerals Act, and the government was in control of the situation.
He said there was no intimation that the remains of the late president will be transported to his farm in Chipata as everything was being handled here in Lusaka.
