MICHEAL CHILUFYA SATA- END OF AN ERA By Edmond Lifwekelo No doubt the death of Zambias fifth president Michael Chilufya Sata has saddened many. Zambians will remember president Sata as the only president in Zambia who fought for the presidency. Kenneth Kaunda was given the presidency on a silver platter, he was in prison when UNIP was formed and was Just handed over the presidency,, Fredrick Chiluba was not present at the famous Garden House meeting when MMD was formed,, he was dragged from the copper belt to take over MMD from Arthur wina,,,Patrick Mwanawasa was awakened from home by AKA and company and taken to State house to be given the presidency,, Rupiah Banda was shocked to be taken out of retirement by Mwanawasa and given the vice-presidency, and eventually the presidency. Sata campaigned and fought for the presidency and he won admiration of many Zambians for that...sadly, he is one man who never enjoyed his presidency as ill health kept him crept in just a year into his presidency.Indeed Sata will be remembered by many Zambians for his sense of humor even when he was on his deathbed. Sata has been described by many in Africa as a very unique opposition leader,,,, tough talking, he made Governments to be on their toes through his defiance stance on many issues affecting the citizens. Sata is the first person to introduce populist politics in Zambia. As an opposition leader, he spoke on issues which the majority citizens wanted to hear no matter how impossible to attain or ridiculous those issues were. He is a man who was willing to go to Jail for his principles by defying the oppressive public order act. He organized rallies at short notices without even informing the police as per the public order act. He held meetings whenever he wanted to,, he travelled to places without restrictions. On many of his meetings he could display confidential private Government documents without fear of the law. Sata in opposition brought many hope to many Zambians who viewed him as a messiah because of his populist stance.. for example he told the people of barotse land that the BA was a valid document and he will implement it when elected president; he promised to repel the oppressive public order act; He condemned RB for having repelled the law on windfall taxes on the mines,,,,etc etc,,,Indeed Sata was a very unique opposition leader. Late president Mwanawasa admitted in one of his interviews that he never enjoyed his presidency because of Sata,, coincidentally, RB made a similar remark some few years later. Zambians will for sure miss Sata,, he was a gallant son of the soil. Indeed Satas passing has marked the end of an era. Rest in peace president Sata, you have really earned your place in history. EL
Posted on: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 11:04:03 +0000
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