Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu has joined the nation in mourning the death of a fish that lived in a pond at the country’s second-biggest university.
Students at Copperbelt University (CBU) lit candles and marched around campus to mourn the big fish.
For the past two decades CBU students have believed the fish would bring them good luck in exams.
Mafishi, meaning “Big Fish” in the local Bemba language, was thought to be at least 22 years old and had lived in the university’s pond for more than 20 years, student leader Lawrence Kasonde said.
His death was still being investigated and plans on a burial has been put on hold, added the president of the Copperbelt University Student’s Union. The union plans to emblam the dead fish.
President Lungu quoted Indian anti-colonial campaigner Mahatma Gandhi in his message of mourning, saying on Facebook that “the greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated”.
“I’m glad you received a befitting send-off. We’ll all miss you,” he said.