News / Africa
'Put people first,' says Mugabe
12 Nov 2014 at 10:28hrs | Views
People should not get into politics for selfish and personal interests but for service to the people, President Robert Mugabe said during his address to mourners at the late Zambian leader Michael Sata's funeral in Lusaka on Tuesday.
Mugabe, who attended Sata's funeral in his capacity as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) chairperson, was joined by other African leaders from Kenya, Madagascar, Namibia and Mozambique.
Muagbe said the greatest tribute that Zambians can give their late fifth republican president Cde Michael Chilufya Sata is to continue with his great works and ensure that they speak to future generations.
When he was announced as the next speaker on the programme, rapturous applause rang out throughout the Heroes Stadium prompting President Mugabe to pump his fist into the air as he walked to the podium, the clenched fist being the slogan Zanu-PF shared with Zambia's ruling Patriotic Front.
Mugabe implored Zambians to remember that they were one nation despite any tribal, religious or political differences they may have saying that was the legacy Cde Sata had left, a carry over from the founding father of the nation Dr Kenneth Kaunda who led Zambia to independence in 1964.
"I want to say we come in tears, the tears represent Zimbabweans, the tears represent Sadc. I am chairman of Sadc now so I speak for these two (Zimbabwe and Sadc), and I want to say the man we have here is a great man.
"He was a man of the people, let him live in our memory, let him live in our hearts. Let the buildings speak of him, let the streets speak of him," President Mugabe said.
Mugabe said people should not get into politics for selfish and personal interest but for service to the people.
"He was a man of the people. Nobody can say they did not know Sata; everyone knew Sata across Africa.
"We used to say this bloody river (Zambezi) was just a geographical barrier, we are the same; we share the same history and people, even our people here supported him, he was a man of the people," he said.
The Zimbabwean leader said he is awed by the legacy of development left by the late President and that there is a palpable sense that this would continue.
"You did that which was right my brother. You had immense plans for the country: the infrastructure, the roads, the mines... you did so much and had even greater plans; tourism, we even did an act together," he said.
Of his relationship with the late Zambia leader, Mugabe said: "He was not just a friend; he had come to be a good brother.
"Each time we met, he referred to me in Shona and said 'Sekuru (uncle or grandpa)' and I would respond similarly.
"And so it is with tears in our eyes and deep sorrow in our bosom. Zambia is mourning and we are mourning too. We are singing farewell to our brother."
Mugabe, who attended Sata's funeral in his capacity as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) chairperson, was joined by other African leaders from Kenya, Madagascar, Namibia and Mozambique.
Muagbe said the greatest tribute that Zambians can give their late fifth republican president Cde Michael Chilufya Sata is to continue with his great works and ensure that they speak to future generations.
When he was announced as the next speaker on the programme, rapturous applause rang out throughout the Heroes Stadium prompting President Mugabe to pump his fist into the air as he walked to the podium, the clenched fist being the slogan Zanu-PF shared with Zambia's ruling Patriotic Front.
Mugabe implored Zambians to remember that they were one nation despite any tribal, religious or political differences they may have saying that was the legacy Cde Sata had left, a carry over from the founding father of the nation Dr Kenneth Kaunda who led Zambia to independence in 1964.
"I want to say we come in tears, the tears represent Zimbabweans, the tears represent Sadc. I am chairman of Sadc now so I speak for these two (Zimbabwe and Sadc), and I want to say the man we have here is a great man.
"He was a man of the people, let him live in our memory, let him live in our hearts. Let the buildings speak of him, let the streets speak of him," President Mugabe said.
Mugabe said people should not get into politics for selfish and personal interest but for service to the people.
"He was a man of the people. Nobody can say they did not know Sata; everyone knew Sata across Africa.
"We used to say this bloody river (Zambezi) was just a geographical barrier, we are the same; we share the same history and people, even our people here supported him, he was a man of the people," he said.
The Zimbabwean leader said he is awed by the legacy of development left by the late President and that there is a palpable sense that this would continue.
"You did that which was right my brother. You had immense plans for the country: the infrastructure, the roads, the mines... you did so much and had even greater plans; tourism, we even did an act together," he said.
Of his relationship with the late Zambia leader, Mugabe said: "He was not just a friend; he had come to be a good brother.
"Each time we met, he referred to me in Shona and said 'Sekuru (uncle or grandpa)' and I would respond similarly.
"And so it is with tears in our eyes and deep sorrow in our bosom. Zambia is mourning and we are mourning too. We are singing farewell to our brother."
Source - herald
