By BEN PHIRI and MAYA NTANDA –

IT was indeed a dark day that brought together patriots and foes in political and social gatherings to review.
All differences were cast aside as the nation took low and sombre profile to mourn one of its gallant politicians.
The passing on of Willie Chisanga Nsanda, a Patriotic Front (PF) party stalwart and member of the central committee, imprints’ another fateful day on the list of the  many  dark days when this nation  experienced bereavements through the loss of prominent political figures.
Another sad part is that, this has happened so soon after the demise of one of Zambia’s political pillars and the country’s fifth president Michael Chilufya Sata.
Mr Nsanda’s demise on March 24, 2015 at Johannesburg’s Milpark Hospital in South Africa, has punched a big void in politics, business and social circles where he proved his worth.

•WILLIE Nsanda (l) with President Michael Sata

Big Willie, as he is profoundly referred to, had a heart for almost everything, having trained as heavy duty mechanical engineer, he could enjoy the dismantling and assembling of any truck engine or heavy machinery within his reach.
During the early 1970s while working for Jet Age Limited, then situated close to the entrance of Mindolo Ecumenical Centre in Kitwe, Mr Nsanda came in love with his motor bike which brought him fame.
Mr Nsanda, who attained his secondary school education at Mukuba in Kitwe, was once the undisputed Zambia Motor Cross national champion, whiles his late son Mwila, became the junior national champion,
A seasoned business executive and an aggressive  politician, his death has not gone down too well in  especially in politics,  as his  permanent missing will be greatly felt as the nation approaches the 2016 tripartite elections.
The political scenario needs fearless and courageous politicians in the likes of Big Willie.
His zeal and  determination in the January 20 presidential by-election won by Edgar Chagwa Lungu,  where he was campaign manager, is testimony enough for the political fraternity especially in the ruling PF,  to have  reason to miss him.
Born 62 years ago in Chingola, Mr Nsanda established himself so well in Kitwe’s Garnetone area, when he ventured into transport business.
He was one man who could first drive his new bus for a month or so, to study how various routes operated and how much income it brought in, before giving it to a driver.
Mr Nsanda was also the now defunct United Transport and Taxis Association (UTTA) chairperson and brought sanity to the transport sector.
He also ran the Zambia-Botswana Bus Service and a fleet of trucks.
In 2001, he was a preferred MMD   Chimwemwe Constituency parliamentary seat candidate piping the then incumbent Charles Museba, and later won the seat.
He was appointed transport and communications deputy minister by the late president Levy Mwanawasa before serving in the Local Government and Housing Ministry in the same capacity.
He quit the MMD and re-contested the seat on the PF ticket which he won. His vast election campaign strategy made the late Mr Sata appoint him his campaign manager during the run up to the general elections in 2011.
At the time of his death, Mr Nsanda served as Roads Development Agency (RDA) board chairperson and over saw the construction of major road projects around the country.
During his tenure at RDA Mr Nsanda implemented three major road projects namely link Zambia 8000, pave Zambia 2000 and the Lusaka (L) 400.
His role in politics is quite diverse, for example, he converted all the MMD bus station party structures throughout the country into PF’s and made the Copperbelt a strong hold for the party.
Many people including friends and enemies alike have viewed his demise as a big loss that has happened so soon.
Former Kitwe mayor Cosmas Bwalya said the death of Mr Nsanda has created a huge gap in the PF which would be difficult to fill.
Mr Bwalya , who grew up with Mr Nsanda in Chingola, described him as an outstanding person when it came to mobilising and organising the party.
“Willie was hard working, he had rare leadership qualities that no one would match because he was a mobiliser and an organiser of events especially party functions. His death has shocked many of us, it’s a sad loss to the party and the nation,” he said.
Mr Bwalya said it was unfortunate that at the time the country needed leaders to help foster development; the nation had lost a dedicated leader in Mr Nsanda.
PF secretary general Davies Chama said the country had lost a dedicated son whose death has also shocked President Edgar Lungu.
“This is indeed the moment of our deepest sorrow, yet it must also be the moment of our greatest determination,” said the party secretary general.
Lusaka Province Permanent Secretary Sturdy Mwale said the PF has lost a formidable party organiser who always worked on reconciliation.
Former MMD Copperbelt provincial youth chairperson Nicholas Nzunda, said Mr Nsanda’s  death was saddening.
He said Mr Nsanda was a Kitwe ‘boy’ and moving his funeral from Lusaka to the mining town,  would accord residents an opportunity to mourn him.
He said Mr Nsanda was a hardworking man who never tolerated laziness.
Riverside bus station chairperson Robert Njovu said Mr Nsanda’s death was a big blow to many bus operators who worked with him in the transport sector.
Mr Njovu who once worked as a conductor at Mr Nsanda’s transport company described him as a great man who helped groom young people.
“I am a bus driver today because of Mr Nsanda. He supported and helped me succeed in life. I was one of his conductors and he supported and encouraged me to succeed and become what I am today,” he said
A Kitwe resident Martha Mushipe a follower of the politics,  said even though people viewed Mr Nsanda as a somewhat rough character and could go out of his way to get what he wanted, he was  generally a good man who  was also generous,  helping the poor and those in need.
Indeed, the country has been robbed of a mobiliser, organiser and a determined politician.
Mr Nsanda, who is to be put to rest in his home town in Kitwe, is survived by several children.
While the curtain has finally been drawn on Mr Nsanda’s life, the glimmer of light will remain flickering behind it as a sign of maintaining his legacy. May His Soul Rest In Eternal Peace?