ZAMBIA: 21 day national mourning declared in honour of late KK

By: Ollus Ndomu

NDOLA —-Zambia’s first Republican President and Africa’s last surviving liberation hero, Dr Kenneth Kaunda (KK) has died aged 97 in the capital, Lusaka.

Dr Kaunda who was admitted to Maina Soko military hospital earlier this week following a short undisclosed illness died peacefully on Thursday, June 17, local media confirmed.

The southern African country has received the news of Kaunda’s death with great shock at a time when the government has shutdown schools and other public places in a bid to stem the third wave of Covid-19.

In a statement released few hours ago, government has declared 21 days of national mourning in honor of KK whose contributions to Africa’s independence struggle attracted international acclaim.

Earlier, Zambia’s main opposition United Party for National Development -UPND- leader, Hakainde Hichilema announced suspension of his party’s political activities across the country’s ten provinces.

Meanwhile, the Botswana government has declared 7 days of national mourning as southern Africa, Africa and the rest of the world remembers KK, who until his death was Africa’s last surviving liberation icon.