Ethiopia Offers Condolences over Death of Zambia’s Former President

ADDIS ABABA – President Sahle-Work Zewde has expressed condolences on behalf of the Ethiopian people on the passing away of the former Zambian President Rupiah Banda .

President Banda died late last week at the age of 85 after suffering from colon cancer. The death was also confirmed by President Hakainde Hichilema.

In her message sent to Zambia’s President Hichilema, President Sahle-Work said that it was with great sadness that she heard the passing of late President Banda and expressed condolences on behalf of the Ethiopian people and of her own.

President Sahle-Work recalled that late President Banda was a student of the then Haile Selassie University, now the Addis Ababa University.

He benefited from the ‘Haile Selassie Scholarship” granted to students from African countries under colonial rule.

Late President Banda visited the University in 2009 while attending the AU summit and talked to students as well.

President Sahle-Work who was then the Director-General for African affairs in the Minister of Foreign Affairs accompanied him.

The former president will be buried on Friday at the Embassy Park, the presidential burial site, in Lusaka, the country’s capital. He served as the president of Zambia from 2008 to 2011.

 

Featured Image Caption: Former Zambian President Rupiah Banda talking to journalists at Lusaka airport on May 31, 2012. [Photo File/AFP]