Freedom fighter Mama Chibesa Kankasa has died after an illness.

And veteran politician Vernon Mwaanga says he has learnt of Mama Kankasa’s death with great sorrow, describing her as a vibrant woman who contributed to the immense promotion of the ‘one Zambia, one nation’ motto.

Mama Kankasa died, Monday, in South Africa where she was evacuated by government for medical specialized treatment about two weeks ago.

Both Chief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya and Health Minister Dr Chitalu Chilufya confirmed the development to ZNBC News in Lusaka.

And Mwaanga said he has learnt of mama Kankasa’s death with great sorrow, describing her as a vibrant woman who contributed to the immense promotion of the ‘one Zambia, one nation’ motto.

“I learnt about her death with a sense of regret because we worked together as members of the Central Committee of UNIP when she was in charge of women affairs and she was also Foreign [Affairs] Minister of Zambia during the 1973 Cabinet. She was a very active organizer of the women’s league of UNIP, which when she took over that leadership after Independence, and of course, she was the wife of a fellow freedom fighter by the name of Timothy Kankasa, her late husband, who was with us during the struggle for independence,” Mwaanga recalled in an interview with News Diggers! on Monday.

He also described Mama Kankasa as one who was regarded as a great example of hard work.

“She was a very dedicated woman to the cause of emancipation of women and she was regarded as an example in terms of hard work and in terms of dedication to the national motto of ‘one Zambia, one nation.’ Her children and grandchildren are married to different people who come from different parts of Zambia just to underline that that belief in one Zambia, one nation [motto]. And she inspired a lot of women not only in Zambia, but also to those who worked with her in the region. And I hope that her selfless spirit will be emulated by women not only in Zambia, but also on the African continent. I can only ask that the angels open the gates of heaven so that the good Lord can receive her and grant her everlasting peace. Her contribution in Zambia will forever be remembered,” said Mwaanga.