THE sudden death of renowned lawyer and politician Tutwa Ngulube has quite naturally evoked mixed feelings in the country.
Those who loved him as family members as well as his business and political colleagues are quite devastated by his death last Saturday.
There are those unfortunately, who have tended to treat his death as a “good riddance” which has not gone well with a lot of people.
But rather than Mr Ngulube”s death dividing the nation, it is important that Zambians unite around his death for that is what defines us as a people.
Zambians in line with their cultural values forget about their perceived differences when there is death and come together to mourn as one.
It is in this context that Mr Ngulube should be mourned.
Church leaders have condemned people who have continued to write demeaning and unpalatable statements about the late former Patriotic Front Kabwe central law maker Tutwa Ngulube.
Mr Ngulube died on Saturday and some politicians have taken to social media to speak ill of him.
It is good though that some religious leaders have criticised those expressing morbid happiness over Mr Ngulube’s death
Chikondi Foundation founder and president Bishop John Mambo said it is immoral, unChristian and uncalled for to speak and write badly about the dead.
And Independent Churches of Zambia president David Masupa said there is need for people to differentiate politicking from being inhuman.
Dr Masupa said not showing remorse to the family and friends of someone who is bereaved is inhuman and should be condemned.
Even though there is controversy over his death, the autopsy that will be done should help to put the issue to rest.
The Patriotic Front in which he served as the central committee says it suspects Mr Ngulube could have been poisoned and are demanding that an autopsy should be carried out to establish and ascertain the true cause of his death.
Mr Ngulube’s family have also written a letter of demand for an autopsy to the Lusaka Heart Hospital from which the former Kabwe Central Member of Parliament suddenly died on Saturday.
Dr Canicius Banda says the PF is treating the death of Mr Ngulube with suspicion and was therefore demanding that an autopsy be conducted so that the truth could be known.
It should be noted that an autopsy merely diagnoses what could have led to someone’s death – it could be due to illness or some other causes.
In the case of Mr Ngulube’s death, suspicions of poisoning could not be ruled out.
This is because Mr Ngulube died suddenly on Saturday, just a day after securing bail for Kaizer Zulu, former President Edgar Lungu’s political advisor who was arrested two weeks ago for assault and threatening violence.
Mr Zulu has been in detention at Chimbokaila Prison since he was arrested and despite the court granting him bail, the former presidential aide has remained in detention and yesterday, he was taken ill and was admitted to hospital.
Still, it is important that these suspicions do not stop from mourning Mr Ngulube with dignity for despite his shortcomings, he deserves to be respected in death.
Stop mocking the dead – church leaders
By Tawanda Munyuki and Wells Chifunda
Church leaders have condemned people who have continued to write demeaning and unpalatable statements about the late former Patriotic Front Kabwe central Member of Parliament Tutwa Ngulube.
Mr Ngulube died on Saturday and some politicians have taken to social media to speak ill of him.
But Chikondi Foundation Founder and President Bishop John Mambo has criticised people writing demeaning and unpalatable words about Mr Ngulube.
Speaking to Millennium Radio in an interview, Bishop Mambo said it is immoral, unChristian and uncalled for to speak and write badly about the dead.
Bishop Mambo says the former Kabwe Central law maker contributed in his own right and he must be mourned with respect and dignity.
He added that Mr Ngulube has a family and everything Zambians are writing the family is reading and a Christian nation must have people to stand for each other.
And Independent Churches of Zambia president David Masupa has said that there is need for people to differentiate politicking from being inhuman.
Dr Masupa says not showing remorse to the family and friends of someone who is bereaved is inhuman and should be condemned.
He says even if people disagreed on political grounds or any other respect should always be shown to the deceased.
