Mazombwe’s death is a huge blow to Zambia says Sata

File: Sata when he visited Mazombwe at the Italian Hospital

President Michael Sata has described as a huge blow to the country and  the church, the death of Zambia’s first indigenous cardinal, Merdado  Mazombwe.

The President said he  learnt with profound sorrow and regret, the  passing of Medardo Cardinal Joseph Mazombwe who died in Lusaka’s  University Teaching Hospital (UTH) on Thursday, August 29, 2013.

In his message of condolense, Sata said  the death of the Archbishop  Emeritus of Lusaka Archdiocese and Zambia’s first indigenous Cardinal,  as a huge blow to the country and the Church.

“I wish to express my deepest sympathy to the entire Catholic  Archdiocese of Lusaka, the Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC), his  family and all those who knew and venerated His Eminence Medardo  Cardinal Joseph Mazombwe both home and abroad,” the Head of State  said.

“I recall the late Cardinal as a courageous and enthusiastic revered  cleric for many years, in particular as a young priest in the 1960s,  as Bishop of Chipata Diocese in the 1970s and finally as the  Archbishop of Lusaka until his retirement in 2006. Most visible among  some of his numerous pastoral initiatives, is the magnificent  Cathedral of the Child Jesus (Pope Square) in Lusaka.”

The President said the late Cardinal Mazombwe’s passion and commitment  to the nation and the poor is equally worth of praise.

“In the months leading to the year 2000, Cardinal Mazombwe, as  Archbishop of Lusaka then, was a fiery crusader for the cancellation  of Zambia’s international debt, in the Jubilee 2000 movement,” President Sata said.

“Clearly, all those who had contact with this great cleric can testify  that his priestly zeal, authority and fidelity to the Gospel was  appreciated by multitudes. I pray to the Almighty God to grant all  Catholic faithful and the entire nation comfort and strength as we go  through this tragic period.”

Cardinal Mazombwe held several senior positions in the local and  regional Church, such as Zambia Episcopal President (1972 – 1975; 1988 – 1990 and 1999 – 2002); and as Chairman of the regional conferences  of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa  (A.M.E.C.E.A.) (1979 – 1986).

This is contained in a statements issued by his Special Assistants for  Press and Public Relations, George Chellah.