President Lazarus Chakwera has designated the former President Bakili Muluzi to represent him at the state funeral for the former Zambian President, Rupiah Bwezani Banda at Lusaka Showground on Thursday, March 17, 2022.

According to a press statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Muluzi is expected to leave the country on March 16 and return home on March 19, 2022.

Meanwhile, President Chakwera, who is in the United States of America (USA) for the Least Developed Countries summit has since conveyed his message of condolences to Zambian people for the loss of their former President, the statement further states.

Rupiah Bwezani Banda who was the fourth Zambia Republican president, died on March 11, 2022, after succumbing to cancer and he will be laid to rest on March 19, 2022.