President Banda was speaking at Lusaka's New Leopards Hill cemetery today during the burial of Rabson Tembo who died in a road traffic accident last Thursday when the Nissan Hard body he was driving overturned in Chipembi area of Nyimba district.

Mr. Tembo was in President Banda's advance party to Mfuwe when the accident occurred, killing him on the spot and injuring two passengers.

The former Head of State eulogized Mr Tembo as a forthright symbol of enduring loyalty and described his demise as a loss not only to his family but also to all who fraternized with him.

At the burial also attended by National Democratic Focus (NDF) President Ben Mwila and former Cabinet ministers Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane and Mr Maxwell Mwale, the former President said the presence of various political party representatives at the late Mr Tembo's funeral was testimony of the unity that has continued to bind Zambia people together.

He said it was such unity that made him proud during the three years that he was Zambian President from 2008 to 2011.

President Banda paid tribute to former Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) Lusaka Province chairman Mr William Banda for hosting the late Mr Tembo's funeral which was held in Bauleni Township.