President Lazarus Chakwera has said the late John Zenus Ungapake (JZU) Tembo’s substantial contributions to the nation make him one of the country’s greats.
Chakwera said this at JZU’s funeral ceremony at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC)’s Malawi Square.
Three years and three months ago, Tembo, who at the time had retired from politics, went to BICC Malawi Square to see Chakwera being sworn in as the first Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Head of State post-1994.
Tuesday, it was Chakwera who was driven to the exact same spot to attend the funeral ceremony of Tembo, who died at Lilongwe Private Clinic on Wednesday last week.
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The President said it was worth it being at the ceremony, describing it as a privilege because Tembo’s life will forever be a library and an archive of the country’s history.
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According to Chakwera, JZU contributed immensely to the country’s development during the colonial, one party and multiparty eras.
“In all three eras of Malawi’s history, Right Honourable John Tembo proved himself to be a statesman, showing his prowess and dexterity in the public service both as a head of multiple public institutions and ministries across multiple sectors and as the longest serving legislator in our nation’s history,” Chakwera said.
He added that Tembo was committed to his family, children, friends, allies and followers.
“There was no one John Tembo did not treat with respect and civility. There was no one John Tembo did not approach with humility and a teachable spirit. There was no one John Tembo did not welcome with gratitude and generosity.
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“He carried himself with dignity and poise, with eloquence, and because he lived well with all and sundry, the number of people in this country that held his life dear and mourn his departure is too many to count,” Chakwera said.
He also took his hat off for JZU for not compromising on his political allegiance to the MCP as he stuck with it when the party was in power and when it was not.
His son, John Tembo Junior, described his father as a great man who made sure that there was unity in the family and togetherness in the party.
“I remember four weeks ago when Your Excellency the President visited my father in hospital. He told you that you should hold a rally. This is the rally Your Excellency. Amakutsanzikani [he was bidding you bye],” he told Chakwera.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Professor Zimani David Kadzamira urged Malawians to remember good things that JZU did to the nation.
“There are a lot of things being said, some [are] even rebroadcasting some things that the late Tembo said on TV long back, but I urge you to allow JT [John Tembo to] have a good and successful closure,” Kadzamira said.
Former president Joyce Banda concurred with Professor Kadzamira, saying there are many good things that JZU did to the nation but they were never told.
“JZU Tembo promoted unity. He was dedicated to his work. If you followed him during the time when he was the Leader of the Opposition [in Parliament], you would understand what I’m talking about.
“So, don’t take what politicians used to say at podia. JZU was a good man and there are a lot of things this generation must emulate from his life,” Banda said.
JZU is expected to be laid to rest today in his home district of Dedza.
