ZAMBIA yesterday laid to rest one of its brightest legal minds and politicians Tutwa Ngulube who died suddenly on Saturday at a hospital in Lusaka.
The hundreds of mourners who attended his burial in Kabwe yesterday attests to the many lives that he touched not only in his private life but public as well.
It is to his credit that people from across the political divide buried their perceived differences to mourn a man who served his constituency and nation with distinction.
Former President Edgar Lungu, accompanied by his wife, Esther joined others at Mr Ngulube’s burial.
President Hakainde Hichilema was represented by Local Government and Rural Development Minister Garry Nkombo who also delivered a message of condolences from the head of State.
Mr Nkombo said President Hichilema’s wish was that the shocking death of Mr Ngulube should bring the nation more closely and called for Zambians to ever remain united.
Joining them was the PF acting President Mr Given Lubinda who led the party faithful to mourn their fallen colleague.
In death, Mr Ngulube was able to bring together all the political foes in Kabwe, which he served as a Member of Parliament for Kabwe Central from 2016-2021 under the Patriotic Front.
It is also to his credit that after losing the parliamentary seat to the United Party for National Unity (UPND), he did not delay to concede defeat, a feat that enhanced his democratic credentials.
He was also among the first to ask then President Lungu to concede defeat to Mr Hichilema of the UPND as the nation teetered into uncharted territory.
Thus, it was not surprising that Mr Ngulube’s death brought Kabwe, known as a ghost town into life as thousands of mourners from across the country assembled in administrative centre of the Central Province to pay their last respects to a man whose life ended abruptly after an illustrious legal and political career.
Business literally came to a standstill as marketers, bystanders, taxi and bus drivers and other onlookers in the Central Business District lined up the entire road leading to the old St Mary’s cemetery to watch and be part of the procession of the hearse carrying Mr Ngulube’s remains.
What was touching was that everyone, from the ordinary resident in Kabwe to his learned coleagues spoke highly about Mr Ngulube’s drive to ensure justice for all.
The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) described Mr Ngulube as a brilliant legal mind who undertook causes even unpopular for the sake of upholding the rights of citizens.
LAZ president Lungisani Zulu said Mr. Ngulube was a fearless lawyer who spoke for the voiceless and his sudden death was a painful loss to the legal fraternity.
But even as the nation bid farewell to Mr Ngulube, it should remember that he stood for the unity of the nation and should therefore strive to promote his values.
The circumstances leading to his death, though suspicious, should not lead to disunity but everyone should heed Mr Lubinda’s advise that everyone should wait for the family to indicate the way forward after receiving the results to avoid causing more grief to the bereaved family.
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