Presidential state funerals: Difference between revisions

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The burial of Mwanawasa occurred on 3 September at Embassy Park opposite the Zambian Cabinet Office. The funeral was attended by heads of 14 African states, including Mbeki, Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, and Tanzania's Jakaya Kikwete. In her eulogy at the funeral, Maureen Mwanawasa said of her husband: "Typical of you, you died on duty. You died a sad man as no one seemed to appreciate your sacrifices. Had you been with us today, I am sure these accolades could have made you happy."<ref name=Unappreciated>[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/09/03/africa/AF-Zambia-Presidents-Funeral.php "Zambian leader's wife says he died unappreciated"], Associated Press (''International Herald Tribune''), 3 September 2008.</ref>
The burial of Mwanawasa occurred on 3 September at Embassy Park opposite the Zambian Cabinet Office. The funeral was attended by heads of 14 African states, including Mbeki, Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, and Tanzania's Jakaya Kikwete. In her eulogy at the funeral, Maureen Mwanawasa said of her husband: "Typical of you, you died on duty. You died a sad man as no one seemed to appreciate your sacrifices. Had you been with us today, I am sure these accolades could have made you happy."<ref name=Unappreciated>[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/09/03/africa/AF-Zambia-Presidents-Funeral.php "Zambian leader's wife says he died unappreciated"], Associated Press (''International Herald Tribune''), 3 September 2008.</ref>
==Frederick Chiluba 2011==
{{Further|Frederick Chiluba}}
Chiluba died on June 18, 2011,<ref name="lusakatimes.com">[http://www.lusakatimes.com/2011/06/18/frederick-chiluba-zambia-s-president-dead "Frederick Chiluba, Zambia ‘s Second President is dead"], Lusaka Times, 18 June 2011</ref> shortly after midnight. His spokesman, [[Emmanuel Mwamba]], announced his death. Mwamba stated that Chiluba had a normal day on June 17, and even had time to meet some of his lawyers. He later complained of stomach ache.<ref name="lusakatimes.com"/>

Revision as of 13:14, 6 October 2016

Embassy Park
LocationIndpendance Avenue oppsite Cabinet Office
Area106.01 acres (42.90 ha)
Visitors21,031 (in 2015)
Governing bodyNational Park Service
Official name: Embassy park/ Presidential park memorial site
DesignatedSeptember, 2008

Embassy Park is the official presidential memorial site. It is located along Independence Avenue opposite Cabinet Office and bordered on the other side by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and various foreign embassies. The site has its significance cause its is the first ever site where the a Zambian President, sitting or past is buried. At the moment the site is a burial place for the second, third and fifth presidents of the Republic of Zambia Frederick Chiluba, Levy Mwanawasa and Michael Sata. These are great sons of the nation who had rendered serevice to Zambia during their living.

Levy Mwanawasa 2008

President Levy Mwanawasa died in office in 2008 while on national duty. In April 2006, Mwanawasa experienced a mild stroke.[1][1][2] On 29 June 2008, while in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, for an African Union summit, Mwanawasa was hospitalised due to a second stroke. On 1 July, International SOS evacuated him by air ambulance to France for further treatment.[2][3] The head of the Egyptian hospital to which Mwanawasa was taken said that the doctors there had stopped the brain haemorrhage and that he was in a semi-comatose state.[3] Vice-President Banda said that his condition was stable, and Minister of Information Mike Mulongoti noted that Mwanawasa had previously suffered from hypertension; Mulongoti also said that Mwanawasa was a "very hard working man" and said that this may have been a factor.[4]

Vice-President Banda said on 18 August that Mwanawasa's condition had suddenly deteriorated and urgent medical intervention was necessary. The intervention was successful, according to Banda, but Mwanawasa remained in serious condition.[5] On 19 August, a family member who wished to remain anonymous stated that Mwanawasa had died early that morning. The news of Mwanawasa's death was confirmed by Banda through a television broadcast on the government-owned ZNBC. He informed the nation that Mwanawasa had died that morning at 10:30 (8:30 GMT) at the Percy Military Hospital in Paris. Expressing "immense grief and deep sorrow", Banda declared national mourning for seven days and urged Zambians to "remain calm and mourn our President with dignity".[6] The mourning period was extended to 21 days on 21 August.[7]

Funeral

Acting President Banda announced state funeral arrangements for Mwanawasa on 21 August. According to this programme, after Mwanawasa's body was returned to Zambia, it would first lie in state at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka, the capital. The body would then be moved to different provincial capitals from 25 to 29 August, after which it would again lie in state at Mulungushi International Conference Centre until 2 September. His burial, planned for 3 September, was intended to coincide with his birthday; Mwanawasa would have turned 60 years old on that date.[8]

Mwanawasa's body arrived in Lusaka from France aboard a French military aircraft on 23 August. It was received with full military honours; Banda and Kaunda were present for the ceremony, which featured a 21-gun salute and jet fighter planes in the sky.[9] It was then taken to all provincial capitals of Zambia, where members of the public had an opportunity to pay their respects. The body was accompanied by both the opposition and the ruling party leaders beside the first family during the tour.

The burial of Mwanawasa occurred on 3 September at Embassy Park opposite the Zambian Cabinet Office. The funeral was attended by heads of 14 African states, including Mbeki, Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, and Tanzania's Jakaya Kikwete. In her eulogy at the funeral, Maureen Mwanawasa said of her husband: "Typical of you, you died on duty. You died a sad man as no one seemed to appreciate your sacrifices. Had you been with us today, I am sure these accolades could have made you happy."[10]

Frederick Chiluba 2011

Further information: Frederick Chiluba

Chiluba died on June 18, 2011,[11] shortly after midnight. His spokesman, Emmanuel Mwamba, announced his death. Mwamba stated that Chiluba had a normal day on June 17, and even had time to meet some of his lawyers. He later complained of stomach ache.[11]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Liu Jinhai, "News Analysis: Zambia faces vital political reshuffle as president dies", Xinhua, 19 August 2008.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Ailing Mwanawasa heading to France", Reuters (IOL), 2 July 2008.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "'Mwanawasa in semi-coma'", Sapa-Associated Press (IOL), 2 July 2008.
  4. ↑ James Butty, "Zambian President Has Had a History of Hypertension, Says Information Minister", VOA News, 2 July 2008.
  5. ↑ "UPDATE REPORT ON THE CONDITION OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT, DR LEVY P MWANAWASA, SC", Zambian Presidency website, 18 August 2008.
  6. ↑ "STATEMENT BY HIS HONOUR THE VICE PRESIDENT, MR. RUPIAH BANDA, MP., ON THE DEATH OF THE PRESIDENT", Zambian Presidency website, 18 August 2008.
  7. ↑ "STATE FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE LATE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA, DR. LEVY P MWANAWASA SC", Zambian Presidency website, 21 August 2008.
  8. ↑ "STATE FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE LATE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA, DR. LEVY P MWANAWASA SC", Zambian Presidency website, 21 August 2008.
  9. ↑ "Late Zambian president back home as nation mourns", Associated Press (International Herald Tribune), 23 August 2008.
  10. ↑ "Zambian leader's wife says he died unappreciated", Associated Press (International Herald Tribune), 3 September 2008.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Frederick Chiluba, Zambia ‘s Second President is dead", Lusaka Times, 18 June 2011
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