Chief Lundu of the Senga in Chama dies

—Chief Lundu of the Senga people of Chama district in Muchinga Province has died.

Family spokesperson, Enoch Chisupa, confirmed the death of Chief Lundu in an interview with the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Chinsali yesterday.

Mr Chisupa who is an uncle of the late Chief, said the traditional leader, Joseph Chisupa, 65, died at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka on Tuesday at about 05:37 hours where he was evacuated last Saturday after being involved in a road traffic accident near his palace on Thursday.

Mr Chisupa said burial of the late Chief Lundu takes place at his palace tomorrow, Friday, June 28, 2013.

Muchinga Province Minister, Gerry Chanda, said the government is saddened with the untimely death of Chief Lundu of the Senga people.

Col Chanda said President Michael Chilufya Sata is deeply saddened with the death of Chief Lundu, adding that the government evacuated Chief Lundu to Lusaka after he was involved in an accident so that he could receive the best treatment possible.

He said the government is mourning with the Senga people, adding that President Sata directed that the body of the late Chief be flown back home so that he could be buried according to the traditional rituals of the Senga people.

The Provincial Minister, who accompanied the body from Lusaka aboard a Zambia Air force (ZAF) plane, said Chief Lundu was a hardworking traditional leader who was committed to the improvement of the livelihood of his subjects.

And Deputy Health Minister, Mulenga Chiponde, said Chief Lundu suffered a stroke whilst driving and lost control of his vehicle, a Toyota Hilux Surf, registration number ALD 7479.

Mr Chiponde said Chief Lundu suffered internal injuries in the accident and efforts to resuscitate him failed.

Chama North Member of Parliament, January Zimba, said it is unfortunate that Chief Lundu has died at the time his chiefdom was being transformed following the change of government.

Mr Zimba said Chief Lundu was very instrumental in seeing that the construction of the Chama / Matumbo Road took off.

He described the late Chief Lundu as a visionary traditional leader with love at heart for his people.

The late Chief Lundu ascended to the throne in 2008.