State funeral of Michael Sata
Michael Sata in 2013, a year before his death
Date11 November 2014
LocationLusaka, Zambia
ParticipantsGuy Scott
Edgar Lungu

Michael Sata, the President of Zambia, died on 28 October 2014 in London, United Kingdom at the age of 77, after suffered from an undisclosed severe illness few months earlier.[1] The state funeral took place on November 11 with the funeral being attended by 9 heads of state, 9 foreign representatives, 2 heads of multilateral organizations and 2 former African political leaders.

Background

On 19 October 2014, Sata left the country for a medical check-up in the United Kingdom, leaving Defence Minister Edgar Lungu in charge in his absence.[2][3] Sata's absence from public view, given that the 50th anniversary of the country's independence was 4 days away, rumours emerged on the status of Sata's health. He died in London on 28 October at King Edward VII Hospital alongside his wife, Christine, son, Mulenga, and other family members.[4][5] Vice-President Guy Scott was named acting leader until an election, making him the first democratically elected white leader of a Sub-Saharan African government since F. W. de Klerk in South Africa.

Dignitaries

Country Title Dignitary
 KenyaPresidentUhuru Kenyatta[6]
 MadagascarPresidentHery Rajaonarimampianina[7]
 MalawiVice PresidentSaulos Chilima[7]
 MozambiquePresidentArmando Guebuza[7]
 NamibiaPresidentHifikepunye Pohamba
 South AfricaDeputy PresidentCyril Ramaphosa[7]
 SwazilandPrime MinisterBarnabas Sibusiso Dlamini[7]
 TanzaniaVice PresidentMohamed Gharib Bilal[8]
 ZimbabwePresidentRobert Mugabe[7]

Government representatives

Country Title Dignitary
 AngolaSpeakerFernando dos Santos[9]
 ChinaMinister of Housing and Urban-Rural DevelopmentChen Zhenggao[10]
 EthiopiaSpeakerAbadula Gemeda[9]
 GhanaMinister of Central RegionAquinas Tawiah Quansah[11]
 Sahrawi RepublicMinister of Foreign AffairsMohamed Salem Ould Salek[12]
 South AfricaFirst LadyBongekile Zuma[9]
 TanzaniaSpeakerAnne Makinda[13]
 United KingdomCountess of WessexSophie[7]
 ZimbabweFirst LadyGrace Mugabe[7]

Heads of multilateral organizations

Organisation Title Dignitary
African UnionChairpersonNkosazana Dlamini-Zuma[9]
Southern African Development CommunityExecutive SecretaryStergomena Tax[7]

Former leaders

Country Title Dignitary
 Botswana3rd PresidentFestus Mogae[14]
 NigeriaHead of StateYakubu Gowon[7]

See also

  • Embassy Park

References

  1. ↑ "Zambian President Michael Sata dies in London", BBC News – Africa, 29 October 2014.
  2. ↑ "Zambian President Michael Sata goes for medical check-up", BBC News, 20 October 2014.
  3. ↑ "Party rivalries grow as Sata ails", Africa Confidential, volume 55, number 21, 24 October 2014.
  4. ↑ Clement Malambo (29 October 2014). "President Michael Sata Has Died". Zambia Reports.
  5. ↑ "Zambian President Michael Sata dies in London", BBC News – Africa, 29 October 2014.
  6. ↑ "President Kenyatta travels to Zambia for Sata's burial". Daily Nation. 11 November 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Foreign Dignitaries visit State House in Pictures". Lusaka Times. 11 November 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  8. ↑ "VP Dr Bilal represents Tanzania at the state funeral of President Sata". Michuzi Blog. 12 November 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Foreign dignitaries arrive". Daily Mail. 11 November 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  10. ↑ "Chinese president's envoy to attend Zambian president's funeral". globalpost.com. 10 November 2014. Archived from the original on 11 November 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  11. ↑ "Foreign dignitaries view Sata's body". Lusaka Voice. 10 November 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  12. ↑ "MFA in Lusaka to represent President of Republic at funeral of former Zambian president". Sahara Press Service. 11 November 2014. Archived from the original on 12 November 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  13. ↑ "Makinda to lead Sadc House team to Sata burial". Daily News. 10 November 2014. Archived from the original on 11 November 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  14. ↑ "Former president to represent Botswana at Sata's funeral". starafrica.com. 10 November 2014. Archived from the original on 12 November 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.