Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Zambians across South Africa on Saturday yesterday held memorial church services to celebrate the life of President Michael Sata who passed away on 28th October, 2014.
In Johannesburg, several tearful congregants thronged Our Lady of the Wayside Parish Catholic Church in Maryvale to pay their respects to the departed head of state.
The service was presided over by two Zambian Catholic Priests, Father Vincent Chileya and Father Evans Chendaeka, both based in South Africa.
Father Chileya said President Sata was a well-known person to many in Zambia because he associated with people regardless of their background.
He notes that having had a personal experience with the late President, he thinks that Mr. Sata was as a warm person who always loved to joke.
Father Chileya remembered that President Sata was so connected to God such that he would attend more than one church service in a day at Lusaka’s Saint Ignatius Catholic Church.
And Charge d’ Affaires at Zambia’s High Commission to South Africa Joe Kaunda said it was sad that Zambia was again already in mourning after the passing of third President, Mr. Levy Mwanawasa in 2008.
Mr. Kaunda says although expected that everyone will die one day, the passing of President Sata came as a shock not only to Zambia, but the world as a whole.
In describing President Sata as a visionary and hardworking leader, Mr. Kaunda has also catalogued some of the milestones achieved during the late President’s reign.
He has pointed out that Zambia’s economy grew by more than six percent per annum, well above the Sub- Saharan Africa average, while inflation has been contained within single-digits.
This is contained in statement released to Qfm News today by press secretary at the Zambian Mission in South Africa Nicky Shabolyo.