ECL was a leader par excellence - Nakacinda

…as he remembers the late former head of State as a man of empathy, exceptional leadership qualities who valued people’s dignity and rights, urges Government to honour his final wishes on burial By NATION REPORTER ZAMBIA’S sixth President, late Edgar Chagwa Lungu was a man of empathy who valued the dignity, rights and welfare of Zambians and governed the country with humility, love and integrity, Raphael Nakacinda, the former Patriotic Front (PF) secretary general has said. Mr Nakacinda, who also served as a Cabinet minister under the PF, said Mr Lungu’s leadership was defined by concern for people, including those who disagreed with him. Speaking in an interview, Mr Nakacinda said former President Lungu, who was born on November 11, 1956, would have turned 70 years old on Wednesday and that Zambians were missing a leader who loved the country. “Even those that may be irritating you in one way or the other, they are part of society, and you are called upon to look after them, and accord them the dignity and all the rights that they are supposed to enjoy. That was the characteristic of President Lungu. He embraces everyone, including those who did not like him or disagreed with,” Mr Nakacinda said. He said that self-awareness made Mr Lungu “one of the exceptional leaders” the country had produced at presidential level. Mr Nakacinda also credited the late President with tangible development in infrastructure, including roads, airports, hospitals, schools and economic zones. He said Mr Lungu was also a strong advocate of Pan-Africanism and believed Zambia should play a leading role in promoting African products and benefitting from the continent’s market. “He also believed in empowering Zambians,” Mr Nakacinda said, citing the late President’s push for greater participation of local companies in major projects. He said Mr Lungu’s administration sought to build the capacity of local contractors and companies so they could eventually undertake complex projects independently. Mr Nakacinda, however, said it was regrettable that Mr Lungu’s death had continued to be followed by uncertainty over the finalisation of his burial arrangements. “It’s a pity that his death has continued to create - we have not really brought to finality the issue of his burial and how it should be done,” he said. Mr Nakacinda appealed for reason to prevail so that Mr Lungu could be accorded a dignified burial while considering his family’s concerns and the former President’s final wishes. Ends.

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