President Edgar Lungu has described the late former Health Minister Dr Joseph Kasonde as dedicated and highly qualified professional who dedicated his life to the cause of seeing a healthy and productive people.

Speaking at the requiem mass at St Ignatius Catholic Church in Lusaka today, President Lungu further described Dr Kasonde as a man who had great passion to serving communities with total commitment and distinction.

“Let me on behalf of my government convey our deepest condolences to the family of late Dr Kasonde, the former Minister of Health who served his country with sufficient honour and success. The nation has lost a true statesman who committed his life to the cause of seeing a healthy and productive people. The medical fraternity has indeed lost an individual who had great passion to serving communities with commitment to a clean, caring, and competent environment, the three Cs as famously referred to them,” President Lungu said.

President Lungu also said that Dr Kasonde’s selfless commitment to the medical profession was clearly evident in the various capacities he served.

And Dr Kasonde’s wife Mary Kasonde said her husband was not only a family man but also a true leader of the nation who performed his duties whole heartedly.

Mrs Kasonde said this in a speech read on her behalf by Dorothy Kasanda.

Dr Kasonde who was born on January 30th 1939 and died on August 25, 2017 is survived by a wife and five daughters.