Fare Thee Well Mama
By Dickson Jere
A lawyer is a very difficult client to have. Always, they forget that they are clients and need to be advised and guided. Usually, it is battle of two lawyers disagreeing on strategy and all.
But not with Mrs Maureen Mwanawasa. She was always calm and took legal advice without much debate.
“Have you finished Counsel?” was her usual line when she was about to disagree with me.
“Now, let us talk as Aunt and nephew…” she would say and offer her perspective on the issue but very calmly.
She had deep understanding of issues but very guarded on certain topics.
“One day I will explain to you,” she would giggle and end the deep questioning especially concerning the woes that had engulfed her.
Occasionally, she would appear at our Chambers – ever immaculately dressed – and sit at the reception without appointment. Our legal discussions always turned into politics. She understood Zambia and the political players very well.
“You and your boss,” was her favorite line when she wanted to criticize the decision made during the reign of President Rupiah Banda.
You see, on 30th March, 1999, I was summoned to Police Headquarters. I knew police wanted to arrest me for the role I played in a story that caused storm in the nation. So, I needed to have a lawyer with me.
Counsel Maureen Mwanawasa, who stood in for the husband, escorted me to the dreaded Force Headquarters. She was my lawyer for that period. I was arrested for espionage alongside other journalists of the now defunct Post Newspapers.
However, two decades later, the tables turned. I was her lawyer and we often laughed about it.
“Life…” she would say.
When President Rupiah Banda was President, I was assigned in my role as press aide, the task of “managing” her among other high ranking officials. So, I interacted with Madam Maureen Mwanawasa so often.
She was sharp. Very sharp!
At her 60th birthday, in April this year, she sent me photos of her being baptised at the Baptist Church on Twinpalm Road. She had given her life to the Lord!
Few days ago, she sent me WhatsApp messages with instructions after I had briefed her about her Court case. We chatted and that marked the end of our conversation.
Next, she is no more!
Fare Thee Well Mama…until we meet again!
