State Counsel Musa Mwenye wrote:
In April, 2008, late former President Michael Chilufya Sata, who was at the time opposition PF leader and arch rival to then President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, suffered a heart attack.
Late President Mwanawasa was the sitting President and it would have been politically beneficial for his vitriolic opponent to have died at the time. But President Mwanawasa did not waste any time in saving President Sata’s life. He ordered Government to evacuate him to South Africa, without any further delay. It is understood that had there been a further delay of just one hour passed the time he was evacuated – President Sata would have probably died.
The two leaders reconciled upon Mr. Sata’s return from medical treatment and Mr. Sata continued being an effective opposition leader until he became Republican President in 2011. The lesson in this is that leaders at all levels must have genuine love for humanity. No matter the political differences politicians may have, love and common decency must be prioritized over vengeance. We need to bring back common decency into our politics.
(Picture of President Mwanawasa and President Sata at the reconciliation meeting at State House in May 2008)