PRETORIA – Friday, 27th March, 2015 – PATRIOTIC Front Secretary General, Mr. Davies Chama has described the late Mr. Willie Nsanda as a lively mobiliser and effective strategist whom the party will find difficult to replace.
Mr. Chama said the PF was greatly indebted to Mr. Nsanda and would miss him as he was a cardinal asset to the party.
Mr. Chama was speaking at a requiem mass held for the late Mr. Nsanda at Thom Kight Chapel in Johannesburg this afternoon.
He said Mr. Nsanda had a very pleasant and unique way of relating with all members of the party and was always lively and made sure that he left a smile on every one he interacted with.
“He was truly action-oriented and passionately a man of the people. The party has indeed lost a gallant fighter who will be greatly missed. On behalf of the President, we are greatly saddened by the loss of Mr. Nsanda,” Mr Chama said.
Mr. Chama said Mr. Nsanda was a strong and dependable leader in whom other politicians saw immense value.
Giving a brief political history, Mr. Chama said the late Mr. Nsanda was elected member of the Central Committee and Chairman for the Transport and Communication Committee of the PF in 2006. He was campaign manager for late President Michael Sata in the Presidential elections of 2006, 2008 and 2011, when the PF eventually won the election.
“You can see just how illustrious his political career was in this short period. Based on his good qualities, President Lungu saw it fit to appoint Mr. Nsanda as campaign manager for the 20th January Presidential election which the PF won,” Mr. Chama said.
“It is unfortunate that just after the campaigns began, Mr. Nsanda started feeling unwell and left the campaigns, and was replaced by Mr. Samuel Mukupa, another member of the Central Committee,” he added.
Mr. Chama thanked Catholic priest Father James Ralston for baptising Mr. Nsanda from his hospital bed before he passed on “and that is why we can safely say that he has been well received in God’s hands.”
Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, His Excellency Mr. Muyeba Chikonde said those who came into contact with Mr. Nsanda will always have fond memories and miss him.
In his sermon, Father James Ralston urged the congregation to focus on remembering the good moments and the good qualities of Mr. Nsanda in order to quickly recover from the pain of losing their loved one.
“Remember the good times you had with the departed and laugh about it because laughter is stronger and does conquer sorrow,” Father Ralston said.
The church service was also attended by the late Mr. Nsanda’s father, Mr. Willie Nsanda Senior, and other family members. Zambians living in Gauteng province, who included Indeni Petroleum Refinery Company Board Member, Mr. Johnstone Chikwanda, as well as some South African business people and staff from the High Commission also attended.
Issued by:
Nicky Shabolyo
Press Secretary – Zambia High Commission – PRETORIA
+27(0)810027548 nshabolyo@gmail.com/press@zambiapretoria.net