By KASONDE KASONDE –
UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) acting secretary general Kuchunga Simusamba who died on Friday last week was buried yesterday at Leopards Hill Memorial Park in Lusaka after a church service at Mount Zion Christian Centre.
The funeral service was attended by various people from the UPND including party president, Hakainde Hichilema and his deputy Geoffrey Mwamba.
President Edgar Lungu’s Special Assistant for Project Implementation and Monitoring Lucky Mulusa also attended the service.
During the service, Reverend John Lumbwe encouraged the gathering to remember that each and everyone would one day leave the earth and stressed on the  need to live a life that was inspiring.
Reverend Lumbwe said that death was not a sorrowful event but an event that should bring people closer to God as they celebrate the life of a loved one.
“Mr Simusamba was an inspiration to many and touched  many lives,” he said.
Mr Simusamba’s daughter Natasha described her  father as a courageous man who was always there for the family.
Meanwhile, Mr Hichilema said Mr Simusamba had left a big gap in the UPND as he was a strong and intelligent man.
He said Mr Simusamba was a friend to many and a good leader who was always ready to make peace  whenever there was a misunderstanding.
Mr Mulusa described the death of Mr Simusamba as a loss to the nation.
He said  President Lungu was equally touched  when he leant about the death of Mr Simusamba as he had interacted with him on a personal level when he was Chawama Member of Parliament.
Mr Simusamba, who died at the age of 44, leaves behind a wife and four children.
He joined the UPND in 2011.