China honors late leader

The Chinese government has sent condolences to Zambia following the death of the country's president, Michael Chilufya Sata, on Oct 28.

President Xi Jinping sent condolences to the Zambian people and government on Oct 30, followed by similar messages from Vice-President Li Yuanchao.

Li sent his condolences through the Zambian Ambassador Gertrude Kasuba Mwape when he signed a book of condolences at the Zambian embassy in Beijing.

Sata, who was known for his outsized personality, was 77. He was in London for medical treatment when he died.

Li said he received the news about Sata's death on Oct 30, when Xi made a public announcement and sent his message to Zambia.

Li has since described the late Sata as a visionary and famous political leader who not only made positive contributions to the development of his country over a short period that he was in office but also strived to enhance the bilateral relations existing between China and Zambia.

Sata took office in September 2011 after an election and peaceful transfer of power. Li told Mwape he is optimistic Zambians will mourn Sata with honor since the nation is known for peaceful deliberations despite differences.

Li, who visited Zambia in June, recalled his meeting with the late Zambian president, saying that while he had information that Sata was ill at the time, he looked well and no one knew his illness would lead to his death so quickly.

"We hope Zambians will rally behind the leadership of Guy Scott to the point where a new president is voted in, build from where Mr Sata has left and keep the development programs running," Li said.

Some reports said Sata died of cancer, though no official cause was released. Scott became Sub-Saharan Africa's first white head of state in 20 years. He will serve as interim leader for three months, until an election, but he is not eligible to run because his parents were not born in Zambia.

Mwape commended the Chinese government and on behalf of Zambia thanked China, saying the country has stepped up every time Zambia needed support.

The Zambian envoy has also urged Zambians to rally behind the leadership of Scott, saying the time of mourning should be used to unify the nation as opposed to leadership squabbles that may rise for those who are eyeing the presidency.

"He established many districts because he believed that was the best way to bring development close to the people," she said.

She also said Sata was a go-getter who left a positive impact in all positions that he served.

"I first knew Sata in the 1980s just after my university studies, when he was governor of Lusaka. He improved the face of the city then, and in the Ministry of Health, we saw health reforms and improved health services. In the local government and housing, construction of more houses was instituted and finally in the Ministry of Labor he advocated for improved conditions of service and salary adjustment to mention but a few," said Mwape.

Mwape said Sata's legacy can only be enhanced through unity as he stood for unity and development as seen from his achievements during his tenure.

Sata was in the political opposition for 10 years and during this period he failed to capture the presidency in three attempts, until the fourth in 2011.

Sata was known to have been a critic of China and of Chinese investments in Zambia while in the opposition, but he changed his mind when he became president in 2011. Since then, he had had good relations with China, as seen from a growing number of Chinese investments and contractors in Zambia during his tenure.

For China Daily

(China Daily Africa Weekly 11/07/2014 page3)