Nawakwi died a sad person – Chifumu Banda
- Edith did not die a happy person, said her lawyer
- They couldn’t believe she was sick
By Tony Nkhoma
FORMER Forum Democracy and Development (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi did not die a happy person because government did not believe that she was very sick, Chifumu Banda has said.
Banda said government agents rubbished his repeated explanations as her defence lawyer that Nawakwi’s health was failing in their quest to have her imprisoned.
He said yesterday during the funeral service of the former minister, who died in South Africa on Monday at the age of 60, government acted like Thomas Didymus in the Bible over Nawakwi’s health.
“Edith did not die a happy person. Edith died in extreme challenges. Where is love? Are we a Christian nation?” Banda wondered as he addressed the mourners, who included President Hakainde Hichilema and senior government officials, at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.
Banda said Nawakwi did not die as a happy person.
Banda said United Party for National Development (UPND) Government maybe can now believe that Edith Nawakwi is dead.
“I asked and showed them on two occasions. I showed them a full medical. One time I told them that she is in the hospital. Here she is on the sick bed. They couldn’t believe she was sick. I asked them, “Are you Thomas Didymus?” Banda said.
Banda said the Zambia Police had total disregard of Nawakwi’s full medical report and instead pushed her into custody.
He acknowledged the Government’s effort to help Nawakwi during her sickness but said it was too late.
“Edith did not die a happy person. Edith died in extreme challenges. Where is love? Are we a Christian nation?,” Banda said.
Banda urged government to learn to accommodate criticism from opposition members and leaders saying their contribution should not be rubbished.
He urged Hichilema and the United Party for National Development (UPND) not to silence the opposition’s criticism.
Banda said if Zambians did not embrace the culture of putting the nation first before personal interest the country would be torn apart along the way.
“There is too much good from the opposition. Let us learn to accommodate each other. Listen to the Church’s contribution to national governance. Let us learn to have constructive engagement,” he said.
Banda said the FDD and the entire Zambia would remember Nawakwi as an accomplished politician.
Hichilema avoided directly discussing allegations of government tormenting Nawakwi when she was sick.
He instead urged mourners to mourn her and not to use the funeral to polarise the nation.
Banda said Nawakwi died on Monday aged 66 in South Africa.
She was buried at Leopards Hill Memorial Park cemetery in Lusaka yesterday.
