Anglicans praise Oliver Reginald Tambo
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By Derrick Sinjela
South African High Commissioner to Zambia, Ms. Sikose Mji Oliver Reginald Tambo 100 birthday Anglican Sunday 21 Jan 2018 pix Derrick Sinjela
ANGLICAN Cathedral of the Holy Cross Dean Canon Charley Thomas hosted an Oliver Reginald Tambo (O.RT 1917-2017) Centenary Birthday Closing ceremony with South African High Commissioner to Zambia, Ms. Sikose Mji and former African National Congress (ANC) Chaplain Bishop John Osmers tagging him as a rare breed of an African.
Earlier, in his sermon, Deacon Rabson Tembo urged congregants and Africa as a whole to build on the immeasurable liberation contribution of the late O.R. Tambo, who died in 1993, after a stroke induced by leading the fight against Apartheid.
Speaking during an emotional worship service graced by Ghanaian High Commissioner to Zambia Margret Ekua Prah, Counsel-Political, Ms. Nontombi Makupula and First Secretary-Political, Ms. Kerosha Ramjettan, a tensed audience heard Ms. Mji commend the Church and Zambia, in particular the United national independence Party (UNIP), led by the indefatigable formermer First Republican president, Dr. Kenneth David Buchizya Kaunda, for diplomatically hosting ANC and liberation stalwart OR Tambo and peers.
Taking a history line, Ms. Mji recollected that the late Tambo had to go into exile two days before his ordination as an Anglican priest.
South African High Commissioner to Zambia, Ms. Sikose Mji Oliver Reginald Tambo 100 birthday Anglican Sunday 21 Jan 2018 pix Derrick Sinjela
Recollected Mji:”With barely two days before his ordination, late Tambo had to go to Britain and finally settled here in Zambia to lead the fight against Apartheid. I do not know if the bishops who were tasked to ordain ORT as an Anglican Priest knew that their deacon had fled”.
“This Church is special to us in that when Oliver Reginald Tambo was sent into exile so that the ANC does not die, the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross, acted as a place of holistic refuge.
A New Zealander by nationality, Bishop John Osmers personally knew and worked alongside late Tambo in Botwana, Lesotho and Zambia.
“I lost part of my hand in a parcel bomb in 1979 that was sent to eliminate us during the Apartheid era,” noted Bishop Osmers. Oliver Reginald Tambo was a good man and great leader,” who continues to offer solidarity to refugees and under privileged communities.
Deacon Rabson Tembo attributed the success of sacrifices achieved by late Tambo and peers like Nelson Mandela to characteristics that placed a high premium on the common good of the south African people.
“Late Tambo and peers could not accept to be humiliated and had the humility and compassion,” recollected an appreciative deacon Tembo.
The Memorial stone was unveiled by Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal Princess Anne to mark the occasion of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Thanksgiving Service and on Wednesday 26th September in the ‘Year of Our Lord’ 2012 and in the Golden Jubilee Year of the Cathedral.
The foundation stone to construct the Cathedral of the holy Cross was laid by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen mother on 11th July 1957.
Nelson Mandela with Kenneth Kaunda and Oliver Tambo on Friday 11th July, 2008
