By SIMON MUNTEMBA & NOEL IYOMBWA
ZAMBIAN and Africa at large has lost a great man in Dr Kenneth Kaunda, Paramount Chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni people has said.
In an interview, Chief Mpezeni said the continent has lost a great leader and a liberation hero.
The traditional leader described the death of the socialist leader as an “indescribable loss.”
“Chalo chonse chulila imfwa ya a Kaunda. Zambia na Africa yonse tulila olemekezeka a Kaunda. {Zambia and Africa as a whole is mourning the death of a respected Statesman, Dr Kaunda},” Mpezeni said.
Chief Mpepo of the Bemba people of Muchinga has advised Zambians not politicize Dr Kaunda’s death.
He said that the death of the founding father should bring political players together.
Meanwhile, India President Shri Ram Nath Kovind has described Dr. Kaunda as a towering Pan- African leader and a committed Gandhian.
According to a Tweet by the Presidential Palace Rashtrapatibhvn, Mr. Kovind recalled that he was privileged to meet Dr. Kaunda in April 2018 during his State visit to Zambia.
Mr. Kovind said Dr. Kaunda’s contribution would never go dim.
Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi condoled the death of Dr. Kaunda, saying he was a respected world leader and statesman.
In a tweet, PM Modi said, “Sad to hear about the passing of Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda, a respected world leader and statesman. My deepest condolences to his family and the people of Zambia.”
This is contained in a statement made available by First Secretary for Press and Tourism at Zambia High Commission in India, Bangwe Naviley Chisenga.
Meanwhile New Heritage Party has called on Zambians to honor the founding father Kenneth Kaunda by putting away their political differences and strive to have a violence-free, fair and peaceful election.
Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera said his country joins Dr. Kaunda’s immediate family and the people of Zambia in mourning the great stateman and son of Africa.
Dr. Chakwera said Dr. Kaunda would be remembered as one of the brave sons of Africa and founding father of the Southern Africa Frontline states who diligently fought for the sovereignty of the African countries and Zambia in particular.
President Chakwera further said that he will attend Dr. Kaunda’s funeral once the details of the funeral and burial programme are announced.
Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi said Dr. Kaunda will be remembered as a father of the liberation struggle, a visionary who embodied the true values of Pan Africanism, freedom, non-racialism, democracy and the regional integration of Southern Africa.
