His Excellency Rupiah Bwezani Banda, the Fourth President of the Republic of Zambia, has described the late anti-apartheid icon and former South African president Nelson Mandela as a great leader who taught humanity the virtue of forgiveness.
Writing in a book of condolences at the South African High Commission in Lusaka’s Kabulonga area today, the former head of state said Mr Mandela had taught the world priceless lessons on the commitment to the emancipation of humanity.
“President Mandela, the great son of South Africa, Africa and the world. You have left us with many lessons to learn such as commitment to the freedom of humanity. You influenced many of us to struggle and to suffer,” read part of President Banda’s message.
The former Zambian president arrived at the South African High Commission offices just before 14:00 hours and was the first to sign the book of condolences in memory of the global icon, who was jailed for 27 years and released in 1990 before becoming South Africa’s first black president in the country’s first democratic elections in 1994.
President Banda was the governor of the city of Lusaka when Mr Mandela visited Zambia in 1990, days after being released from prison.
And in an interview with the BBC early today, President Banda hoped that Mr Mandela’s death would help to unite all Zambians, as that would be the best way of honouring the departed leader who united all South Africans when he assumed the country’s presidency.
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