ALL AFRICA REPORT: PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has lamented the death of Father Francis Musonda of Kasama as a terrible loss to the church and the nation.
In a letter of condolences to Monsignor Father Ignatius Mwebe who is the Apostolic Administrator of the Kasama Archdiocese, the President said he was deeply moved to learn of the death of Father Francis who
passed on at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka at about 17:00 hours on Wednesday August25, 2011.
President Banda said Father Francis, who lately was based at the Emmaus Spirituality Centre in Lusaka, committed himself to the development of rural life as an itinerant pastor, and demonstrated a great love for ordinary people."I have learned he was the first native Catholic seminarian in Zambia in whose interests his family made great sacrifices to enable him train as a priest," the President said.
The Head of State said he was saddened to note that the Catholic Church had suffered two losses among its clergymen in less than a week, following the death in Texas, US of Bishop Paul Duffy.
President Banda wished the archdiocese and the bereaved family the courage and comfort of the Lord Jesus Christ. This was contained in a statement released by President Banda's Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations, Dickson Jere.
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