Following a controversial debacle on 4th July, 2012 in which His Excellency Michael Sata, President of the Republic of Zambia, publicly attacked former United States President George W. Bush, Zambia’s immediate-past President Rupiah Banda, has sent a letter to Mr Bush’s offices offering an apology on behalf of the Zambian people.
“It is deeply regrettable that such statements were made on the same day as the celebration of your Independence Day, marking the universally-shared hope of self-determination and freedom that continues to inspire oppressed people of the world,” President Banda wrote in the letter to President Bush.
“No matter what political views different parties may hold, the people of Zambia are peace-loving, welcoming, and focused positively on the future, not the past. We are especially grateful for your generous contribution to women’s healthcare in our country.”
During a ceremony held at State House in Lusaka, President Sata castigated President Bush in front of an audience as a “colonialist” who had returned to pay back the resources that had been stolen from Africa.
“And you have all drifted away; you have abandoned Africa after taking all our raw commodities, our raw materials and build your cities,” President Sata said to President Bush at the press conference.
“I mean, as far as you are concerned, Africa doesn’t exist. And when we have a former colonialist like you coming back to pay back what you took out of this country, we are grateful.”
President Banda’s letter to President Bush also recognised the important work of the Pink Ribbon/Red Ribbon charity group.
According to the George W. Bush Presidential Center website, the visit by the former American head of state included the opening of the new African Center of Excellence for Women’s Cancer Control at University Teaching Hospital, the donation of a new electronic hub (e-Hub), and the announcement of aid from Airborne Lifeline, a non-profit organisation that will provide airfreight services for medical equipment and transport medical personnel and patients as well as the support of the National Breast Cancer Foundation, which has provided the funding for a health promotion manager who will be hired and based in Africa to support PRRR activities
The full text of President Banda’s letter to President Bush can be read below:
43rd President of the United States of America George W. Bush
C/O The George W. Bush Presidential Center
P.O. Box 600610
Dallas, TX 75360
U.S.A.
July 5th, 2012
Lusaka, Republic of Zambia
Dear Mr. President,
I am writing to you on behalf of concerned citizens in Zambia to express our most sincere apologies for statements made by President Michael Sata during your public reception at State House in Lusaka on 4th July, 2012.
These statements, which were not only factually incorrect and undiplomatic, do not represent the true feelings of the Zambian people, who strongly recognise the value of positive relations with the United States of America.
Having recently completed an appointment as a President-in-Residence at Boston University, I had the opportunity to meet with many Zambians living in the U.S. diaspora.
Some of these Zambians were studying to become doctors and engineers, others had risen to prestigious positions in business, while some were looking forward to bringing their new skills back home, contributing to our development as a nation and forging a stronger bilateral bond between the people of the United States and the people of Zambia.
I, for one, have always viewed this as a positive development and something to be encouraged in the future.
It is deeply regrettable that these statements were made on the same day as the celebration of your Independence Day, marking the universally-shared hope of self-determination and freedom.
As our elected head of state, the President is entitled to formulate a foreign policy of his choosing. However, disagreement need not manifest itself in disrespect, and the form and manner in which these statements were made is not representative of our culture.
No matter what political views different parties may hold, the people of Zambia are peace-loving, welcoming, and focused positively on the future, not the past. We are especially grateful for your generous contribution to women’s healthcare in our country, helping us to address urgent humanitarian needs of our people.
We hope that this unpleasant and embarrassing experience will not dissuade you or other former heads of state from collaborating with us on development projects in the future.
Hope, not resentment; hard work, not victimhood; and progress, not retrocession; are the hallmarks of the new Zambia that our people dream of building, and we hope that people of all nations will work with us in pursuing a better future for our people.
Sincerely,
Rupiah Banda
Fourth President of the Republic of Zambia
RB Writes Apology Letter To Bush Over SATAs Remarks ‘Ignore Sata, He Is An Embarrassment To Zambia, Undiplomatic’ added by on
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R B is right to apologies having worked in that office still understands on what to joke on moreover the embassy has received the letter, for same of us who know this man we know that he never serious on real issues only jokes, he joke on issues of national security, national interest and death. if only you have good memory you can remember how Sata joked on the death of PAUL TEMBO “Boshe Tembo kana mashi akuti twaipatoye “yet tembo was to stand in court on national interest to testify in abuse and plunder case against Chiluba, he joked of Kaunda hiding weapons alleging that Kaunda was to start a civil war if he lost election.
SECOND TIME FOR UKWA TO TALK UN DIPLOMATICALLY AN UN PRESIDENTIALLY, WHAT A SHAME TO HAVE SUCH AN EMBARRASSING PRESIDENT. YES BUSH IS NOT A GOD, BUT OUR CONCERN HERE IS OUR PRESIDENT’S LACK OF DIPLOMATIC ETTIQUETS. RB IS RIGHT COZ HE KNOWS THE OF WHAT OUR PRESIDENT SAID. HE HAS BEEN PRESIDENT BEFORE. ADVISORS PLIZ ADVISE THIS MAN WELL HE IS NOT RUNNING A COMMEDY SHOW BUT A COUNTRY WHICH IS INTERNATIONALLY CONNECTED.
Our president is a populist and he is for the people & his reasoning is people driven unlike the boot liking RB who has no right whatsoever to speak for Zambians. which constituence is he representing if i may ask certainly not me i rejected him for once we have a president for us by us alot of african leaders have told western leaders of & they have turned out great i will list some of them below.
Mandela told off bill clinton
Mugabe told off Tony Blair & others
KK told off the queen & PM of England during independence struggle and Kwameh Nkuruma on neo-colonialism etc
A black man as a debate with a white man and the white man later admits that indeed America did indirectly colonise africa and you apologise for the blackman that is the worst form of inferiority complex i av ever seen lets ask ourselves;
what was the effect of the USA surporting apathied government of SA on Zambia?
what was the effect of the proxy war the USA fought with Russsia in central southern africa on Zambia?
What has been the effect of neo-colonialism,economic colonialism via IMF,oil price fixing, etc on Zambia?
Abash apologists we have apolodised for too long for nothing.
Ooops i ment ABASH apologists we have apoloGised for too long for nothing lets for once stand up and voice our opinions eigther wrong or right
state house is not Lusaka play house, at Lusaka play house people go there specifically for jokes and laughter, but state house for Zambia is meant for serious business as many Zambians re in abject poverty and a president in the company with such a man like Bush should behave well and strictly deal with issues which affect the nation and it people than turning such a meeting into a comedy and end up losing the point, this is why some people say chimbwi no plan, because if there was a plan Bush should have been taken seriously and table with him issues contained in the Government plan but when you have nothing surely you resort to comedy as way to pass time. SORRY FELLOW ZAMBIANS WE RE IN FOR IT UNTIL 2016.
suicide lover
when supporting politician it very important to critically analyze how presentable their are locally and internationally.
I mean that politician in government should know that the world is watcing them, same with a negative eye well as other with a positive eye. with a well known reputation anything they say is interpreted with the view or angle from were their (other)eyes sees it.
Those supporting RB are extremely inferior and its really good that RB is out of power. Boot-licking africans are pretenders and such people hide the truth of the struggles of this continent to many of our people. No wander suffering is always around us. I thank God for open-minded people like Sata. Whether he was joking or not.
again in the news for something nonconstructive ati president yaba
RB’s apology is a true picure of all zambians. Lets be careful with words coming out our mouths. Thanks RB for that apology!
@ luanshyaexposd….I agree wth u 100%….ths pipo commentng against Sata shld ask thmslvs ths qustn, by wht means did rb hpe to appologise,as wht, former presidnt or fellw illuminati…th us nvr colonizd any state simply bcos,it is a natn formd by illuminatis frm dffrnt states,who cme to th new foundland to pave way fr thr evil desires to manifest at th appointd time…explns why inauguratns of us prsidnts r no longr on th westrn bt eastrn…pipo,reserch,lrn,undrstnd and apply wisdm..bsids,thr is nthng wrng wth wht sata said…for it is true…ddnt slaves go to america wthh our minerals etc,wht did it gve us…guns…and so calld missionaries who were also illuminatis(wolves in sheep clothng)wake up zambia
has bush accepted the apology???
bakateka besu nabamba ukupena!