Following the announcement of the passing yesterday, Tuesday, August 13th 2024, of Her Excellency Dr. Mrs. MAUREEN MWANAWASA, Former First Lady of The Republic of ZAMBIA, at age 61, this CHAT which VOSAWORLD RADIO's "MUSINGS & MUSIC" TALK SHOW HOST, EGBE MBIWAN MONJIMBO had with her has been posted here in her Honor and Memory.
Besides being First Lady from 2002 to 2008 when her husband, H.E. LEVY PATRICK MWANAWASA passed away while in office, Mrs. MWANAWASA was a legal practitioner, a member of the Association of Women Lawyers in the United Kingdom, a serving council member of Law Association of Zambia Women’s Rights Committee, and the Vice Chairperson for the Habitat for Humanity, Zambia Board.
Had the aforementioned been the only arenas in within which she operated, it is highly unlikely that our paths would ever have crossed, and I would certainly not have had the privilege of meeting her - in the flesh, and interacting with her.
I met her for the very first time on Saturday, April 28th 2018 right here in Charlotte, North Carolina when, at the invitation of The NO BACKPACK DAY initiative, I attended a Charity Dinner and Panel Discussion presided over by her and emceed/moderated by CNN Anchor Lady, Melissa Mahtani.
I was one of two representatives of The SAKERETTES TRANSGLOBAL ALLIANCE, (STA), which, at the time, was looking to participate in the Charity Initiatives debated and discussed during that panel discussion. (STA did subsequently partner with the NO BACKPACK DAY initiative, sponsoring the supply of Backpacks to children not just in ZAMBIA but also in SOUTH AFRICA and CAMEROON.
The next time there was an official interaction is in October of 2022 when she so graciously accepted to be my guest on the MUSINGS & MUSIC Talk Show, to speak on a topic so very dear to her heart: THE AFRICAN GIRL CHILD.
What a Frank, Open, Insightful and INSPIRING Chat we had!
The passionate, kind, HUMBLE and very DOWN-TO-EARTH human being that she was did "keep in touch" quite a bit via WhatsApp, but THE LAST TIME I got to see and hug her was on Saturday, June 19th 2024 - not even up to two months ago, when she returned to Charlotte to take part in another NO BACKPACK DAY Event.
Would never have guessed that would be the last time I would see her!!!! MY GOODNESS!
SATURDAY: I learn you are ailing.
TUESDAY: You're gone!
Like, BBC NEWS, YAHOO NEWS, "THE NAMIBIAN", MALAWI 24, "TIMES OF ZAMBIA", WIKIPEDIA ... GONE!
No way to say or think this is a rumor. UNBELIEVABLE!
Well, I guess this is another occasion where, unable to make any sense out of anything, we will ourselves to be GRATEFUL that you did existed in the first, that you accomplished a whole lot in the time allotted to you by The Almighty, and that you made life so much better for so many.
THANK YOU!
Praying for solace and comfort for your Family - your Children especially who are understandably devastated. May God grant them all it will take to keep your vast LEGACY thriving.
REST IN PEACE, Ma'am!
Fondly, Gratefully & Respectfully,
Egbe Mbiwan Monjimbo