MY SHORT CONVERSATIONS WITH MICHAEL SATA LEADING TO HIS SIGNING OF THE FOREWORD TO MY BOOK “STUDENTS RECLAIM OF A PLACE IN SOCIETY” It is the month of May , in the year 2011. I had just finished the first manuscript for my book ‘STUDENTS RECLAIM OF A PLACE IN SOCIETY ‘ and my mind was made up that I needed to get in touch with the then opposition PF leader Michael Sata requesting for his foreword. I drafted a letter of request addressed to him and dispatched it through express mail delivered to my elder brother Francis Kang’ombe in Lusaka. Francis then took it to Farmers House at the then PF office of the late Michael Sata and delivered it to the secretary. Two weeks later I was at work at Atlas Copco (z) ltd when my charging phone rung and a colleague of mine Kenneth Mwila answered as he was near the socket only for a commanding voice to ask him; SATA: “ niwebo kang’ombe mwishikulu waba Pikiti ? Kenneth answered; awe mukwai but let me give kang’ombe the phone . I got the phone, answered that it was me on the other end and that’s how the late introduced himself. SATA: “ ninebo sata but my father used to call me Michael Chilufya, bushe niwebo kang’ombe umwishikulu waba Pikiti ? and I answered yes sir. “ ulefwaya inkulembele foreword ? I said yes sir. “ Basokulu ba mateo Pikiti bali banandi sandi “. “ find time to come to Lusaka get in touch with my secretary and come and exchange notes with her on the foreword I am going to draft for you. And send a copy of the book you have written pakuti imbone nga fyamano ulembele mwi buku. I said thank you sir and confirmed my trip to Lusaka the following week. I met up with Brenda from his farmers house office and he gave me a draft copy of the foreword which was later edited. Owing to the busy campaign activities of 2011, the book project was shelved and I never got the foreword signed by then opposition leader. But the draft copy was ready and so was my book. In September 2011, Michael Chilufya Sata was elected 5th President of Zambia. The following year, I had managed to put some money together for publishing the book and so I had to get the foreword concluded. I gave Honourable Emmanuel Chenda a copy of the foreword so that he could assist with getting it signed. He later advised that in order to get it done quicker, George Chellah would be able to facilitate. I reached out to comrade George Chellah who had been appointed Press Aide for the President the previous year to assist with getting the amended foreword signed off and he pledged to assist. I was called by Brenda that the President had signed the foreword to my book and that she would send it through. I received a phone call the following week and the President told me; SATA: “ all the best young man with your book project, and I said thank you sir.” That’s the last time I spoke to the late Michael Sata. The rest is history as you will read. I remain grateful for the value that the he added to my book through his very clear and specific foreword. The great MICHAEL CHILUFYA SATA is no more but his legacy lives on. # farewell ba friend to my late grandfather...am sure you have met up with ba Mateo Pikiti in heaven#
Posted on: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 07:09:38 +0000
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