‘IT WAS OUR WISH’
...Kaunda family speaks out
THE Kaunda family has rubbished suggestions that government was working unilaterally to transport the body of First Republican President, Kenneth Kaunda around the country.
This follows claims by UPND alligned UNZA lecturer, Sishuwa Sishuwa and DP Presidential candidate Harry Kalaba that it was not the wish of the Kaunda family to take the remains of Dr Kaunda around the country.
Dr Kaunda’s son, Tilyenji said in an interview that the allegations were false and baseless.
He challenged Mr Sishuwa to tell the nation which family member revealed that to him.
He said the family had sat down to discuss the funeral proceedings , therefore people should not sit down and start reading other people’s minds by making fake allegations.
He said Dr Kaunda stood for unity and this is the time for the country to stand for unity and show love to one another and not pointing fingers.
Mr Kaunda said it was not fair that some people are reading bad intensions and want to drag the name of the government into disrupt which is not fair at all.
He however advised Sishuwa not drag the Kaunda family into his personal matters because he was not part of the family.
He said Dr Kaunda was a statesman, and the suggestion from his family to make the body go around the country was not government suggestion, but Dr Kaunda’s family.
He advised politicians not to take Dr Kaunda’s funeral into the political arena as no one wants to gain political mileage from a funeral.
“I don’t see any of us pointing fingers at any political figure because we agreed that this funeral should not be politicalized and anybody can come and mourn in peace and harmony,” said Mr Kaunda.
And Information and Broadcasting Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga said Government was working with the Kaunda family to give Dr Kaunda a good send off and all decisions made have been made jointly.
Mr Malupenga brushed aside suggestions that the family was not part of the decision to take Dr Kaunda’s body around the country.
He said the funeral programme, which has the full blessings of the family would resume today as scheduled