HUNDREDS MOURN FORMER FINANCE MINISTER EMMANUEL KASONDE

The late Emmanuel Kasonde lays in state during the requiem mass at the Child Jesus Cathedral in Lusaka.





THE LATE EMMANUEL KASONDE WAS A VISIONARY LEADER

A MEMORIAL mass was held in Lusaka for the late Finance minister Emmanuel Kasonde at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus in Lusaka.
Archbishop Mazombwe said Mr Kasonde indicated that he did not want anyone to say anything about him during his funeral. This was contained in the late Kasonde’s will. But Lusaka Archbishop Medardo Mazombwe was forced to push in a few praises in honour of the late Kasonde.
Archbishop Mazombwe said he knew Mr Kasonde for 30 years and they would consult each other on many matters. Therefore, he found it hard not say anything about Kasonde.
Lusaka Archbishop Medardo Mazombwe described the late Kasonde as a dedicated catholic.
Mr Kasonde was the first chairperson for the committee to build the Child Jesus Cathedral after the late Pope John Paul laid a foundation stone for its construction in 1989. Mr Kasonde died at Lusaka Trust Hospital on Friday after an illness.
Archbishop Mazombwe hailed the late Kasonde as a dedicated catholic and Christian who has served the people of Zambia diligently.
“The late Kasonde was a man full of ideas, which he shared with others and this cathedral is testimony for it.
“He was a catholic inside out. He was dedicated to church affairs, despite the position he held in society, he remained simple and approachable,” he said.
The funeral mass was attended by Defence minister George Mpombo who represented President Banda, First republican president Kenneth Kaunda, deputy speaker of the national assembly Mutale Nalumango, former vice presidents Enoch Kavindele, Nevers Mumba, Home Affairs minister Kalombo Mwansa and other public figures.
Opposition leaders Patriotic Front’s President Michael Sata and his counterparts from the United Party for National Development Hakainde Hichilema, All Peoples Congress Party’s Ken Ngondo, National Democratic Focus’ Ben Mwila were also present.
Others were diplomats accredited to Zambia, cabinet and deputy ministers, senior Government officials and members of the business community.
Family friend and former Bank of Zambia governor Dominic Mulaisho said the Kasonde was a practical and brilliant visionary.
Mulaisho said the late Mr Kasonde always put the interest of Zambia first.
Mr Kasonde was born on December 23, 1935 at Malole Mission in Mungwi district.
He did his primary education at Malole Primary from 1943 and in 1950 and later went to St Francis Secondary School. In 1953 to 1956 he went to Munali in Lusaka. Upon leaving Munali in 1957, he started work as a labour officer.
In 1958, Mr Kasonde went to study economics at the London school of economics.
In 1967, Dr Kaunda appointed Mr Kasonde as Finance permanent secretary.
In 1971, Mr Kasonde joined the private sector where he established private companies.
He re-joined politics in 1990 and became the MMD provincial chairman for Northern Province and was appointed Finance minister by former President Chiluba in 1993 when he left the MMD to join the splinter National Party.
He bounced back as finance minister when the Late President Mwanawasa appointed Mr Finance minister.
In 2003, Mr Kasonde retired from active politics and served in several positions as a church member.
His wife Rose, three children and eight grand children survive the late Mr Kasonde.