Remembering Frederick Chiluba

THE Latin phrases De mortuis nihil nisi bonum (of the dead, nothing unless good) indicate that it is socially inappropriate to speak ill of the dead.
So whatever ill has been spoken about the late President Frederick Chiluba should be buried in the history of time.
We thus join his children, friends and well-wishers in paying tribute to the man for his humility and dedication of Zambia to God by declaring the country a Christian Nation.
We further concur with Dr Chiluba’s children who have rightly observed that their father should be commended for bringing multipartsim, free market economy and declaring Zambia a Christian Nation.
We join Chiluba’s children Helen, Miko, Hortensia, Kaindu, Darlington, Chongo, Huldah, Fred, Verosica and Eva in thanking all the people that mourned with them as well as stood with them after the death of the second Republican president.
In life everyone plays a role. Just like Dr Kenneth Kaunda is credited as the founding father of the nation, the late President Chiluba had his own role.
Late President Levy Mwanawasa stands out in his campaign against corruption while President Rupiah Banda hinged his governance on economic development with the late President Michael Sata stressing the importance of infrastructure development.
Hate him or love him, Dr Chiluba left an indelible legacy which is anchored on ushering in a new era of democratic practice, the right to a free market economy and, most importantly, dedicating this peaceful country, Zambia, to God.
This contribution is undeniable and, as mere sinful mortals, those who have remained should leave judgment to the Almighty God through the Lord Jesus Christ.
The late Dr Chiluba, who died aged 68 after a heart attack, will always be part of Zambia’s history since he stood out from the time he was a trade unionist to the time he became president of Zambia till he was taken away to be with the Lord five years ago.
We, on our part, remember Dr Chiluba as a principled man who at one time when the former Republican president Kaunda offered him a job as a member of the central committee in the UNIP government in 1979 turned it down.
He soldiered on with his fellow trade unionists, like Newstead Zimba and the late Chitalu Sampa and continued fighting for the rights of workers like miners on the Copperbelt for whom he demanded equal pay for equal work in comparison with pay for the expatriates then.
Dr Chiluba’s other legacy is liberating the people to freely associate and express themselves without the fear of being haunted by State agents, a main feature in the First Republic.
Like any other mortal, Dr Chiluba certainly had his faults and shortcomings but no one can remove his successes which are imprinted in Zambia’s political and social sphere.
Young and upcoming unionists and politicians alike should emulate the tenacity and vibrancy of this departed son of the soil as they champion their careers.
Dr Chiluba is among Zambia’s heroes and should, therefore, be honoured even in his death.