By: Ollus Ndomu
As the world’s people join Africa, particularly Zambia in paying tribute to Kenneth Kaunda who died peacefully on Thursday while receiving treatment for pneumonia at Maina Soko Military Hospital in Lusaka, AfricaWorld Newspaper recounts his contributions to Plan-Africsnism and indeed the liberation struggle.
Dr Kenneth Kaunda who until his death championed Pan-Africanism, was Zambia’s first Republican President and Africa’s last surviving independence hero. Born in 1924, Kaunda fondly called KK was a schoolteacher who would later lead Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) to its independence in 1964.
Even at 97, KK’s death is no less painful than that of a young person; because he represented one of the last if not the last, in a class of gallant sons of Africa who fought tooth and nail to reclaim the continent. At home, his life epitomized the true Zambian spirit woven in the ‘One Zambia One Nation’ motto.
Commenting on Kaunda’s immense contributions to the rise of the modern day Zambia, Trevor Hambayi, Senior Managing Partner, Development Finance Associates in Lusaka said in an interview the BBC:
“He united a country with more than 72 different tribal groups into one country. He had the philosophy of ‘One Zambia, One Nation’. He contributed greatly to the liberation struggle of southern Africa with the country hosting a lot of the liberation struggle leaders in the 1960s and 1970s – Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, also political leaders from Mozambique, Angola and Namibia.”
Kaunda has gone in history as an African leader whose entire life was dedicated to achieving self-rule across Africa. The tenacity and the selflessness he attached to fighting White Minority Rule in Zimbabwe including South Africa’s apartheid, earned him international claim.
Zambia’s independence did not mean everything to KK until the rest of Africa was free. Declaring a 7 day national mourning for KK across South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa recounted the role Kaunda played in the rainbow nation’s liberation struggle:
“He stood alongside the people of South Africa at the time of our greatest need and was unwavering in his desire for the achievement of our freedom.
“It was in honour of this remarkable contribution that the South African government bestowed on President Kaunda the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo in 2002. Kenneth Kaunda was a pioneering champion of a decolonised, united and prosperous Africa. He represented his country and continent with distinction on global platforms.
Today we recommit ourselves to building the Africa “of KK’s vision – an Africa of peace, justice, prosperity and innovation.”
Regional countries including South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia have declared a period of mourning for Kenneth Kaunda as Zambia prepares to put him to rest in few days ahead.
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