WORLD leaders and other eminent dignitaries yesterday joined President Edgar Lungu and the Zambian people in remembering late former president Dr Kenneth David Kaunda at a state funeral in Lusaka.
Eulogies from Southern African leaders reminded the world of the role that Zambia through President Kaunda played in leading the liberation movement on the continent.
From North to South, West to East, Africa made its presence at the state funeral of a man who dedicated his life and his country to the liberation struggle on the continent.
The leaders recognised the sacrifice of the Zambian people who had to harbour the freedom fighters from across borders, effectively making Zambia the launch pad for many struggles for liberation.
Nine presidents and many other international dignitaries attended the funeral honouring one of Africa’s iconic freedom fighters, who passed away on June 17, 2021 at Maina Soko Medical Centre after an illness.
The Presidents in attendance, all from Africa included Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta, South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, Emmerson Mnangagwa from Zimbabwe, Mogkweetsi Masisi from Botswana, President of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo and President of Mozambique Filipe Nyusi.
Other presidents were Malawi’s Dr Lazarus Chakwera and Namibian Hage Geingob.
And President Edgar Lungu gave a glowing tribute to President Kaunda, describing him as a symbol of unity whom he visited every April 28, which was his birthday.
President Lungu said he was shocked when he learnt of President Kaunda’s death because he had got used to seeing him every birthday.
“We are also here to pay utmost respect to a great man. A legend, a true African icon and a founding father of our country, Zambia.
At the age of 97, many people would say we are celebrating the life of Kenneth David Kaunda rather than mourning him. But when I received the message of the demise of our first president, I shed tears and I was heartbroken.
Every April, 28th, I ensured that I visited his home to celebrate his birthday with him. I felt that on his birthdays I could spend time with him and just show him how much we, as a nation, are indebted to him and how much we loved him. But it was also to celebrate with him his long life and good health.
President Kaunda was a freedom fighter who, through long held perseverance, tenacity and personal sacrifice, helped liberate Zambia from colonial rule.
He, and his many colleagues, now gone, believed that we Africans deserved to decide our own destiny as a people, and that we could not be discriminated against and have our natural resources plundered by settlers while we wallowed in abject poverty and degradation.
While KK worked to develop Zambia, which he did, much of southern Africa was not free. There was civil war in Angola, in Mozambique, apartheid in South Africa, liberation struggles in Namibia and Zimbabwe.
President Lungu said he was not surprised to see heads of state and government present at the funeral despite the dangerous world everyone was living in.
“But I know you could not miss this moment because the man we bid farewell to meant a lot to you and your countries, just like he did to us.
KK hosted many nationals and liberation movements to achieve this ideal. And despite fears and discontent by some Zambian citizens that hosting our brothers and sisters from the region was endangering the country, despite attacks from colonial governments in the region and loss of life, KK did not buckle, he said.
The President also paid tribute to all leaders who attended the funeral and all those who had sent messages of solidarity.
“The story of KK is embodied in the lives of all Zambians who lived under his leadership. We all have a story to tell about Dr Kaunda because we grew up during his presidency. KK emphasised free education for African children, never mind whether that child was Zambian or not.
“I am a product of KK’s free education up to university. President Mnangagwa would tell a similar story about KK’s belief in the education of African children having been educated here in Zambia. It was because of that vision that some of us here are privileged to be Presidents, President Lungu said.
And ZANIS reports that foreign leaders and regional bodies attending the state funeral of Dr Kaunda have paid glowing tribute to the late First Republican President.
Dignitaries penned down moving eulogies in the book of condolences as they arrived at the state funeral at the show grounds.
President Ramaphosa, said Dr Kaunda will forever be remembered as a courageous leader who supported South Africa’s struggle for freedom and democracy.
“KK as we called him, fondly was a great inspiration to the young people of South Africa. He will forever be remembered as the father of our liberation in South Africa” Mr Ramaphosa said.
President Mnangagwa, eulogised Dr. Kaunda as the last founding father of the African Union (AU), who lived long enough to see his dream of an independent Africa.
“He was the pan-Africanist icon who believed that Zambia was not independent until all countries on the African continent have become free and independent” Mr Mnangagwa wrote.
President Masisi said President Kaunda gave all of himself for the betterment of everyone in the region, Africa and the world.
Emotional tributes continued with president Geingob who like many current and former Heads of state lived in Zambia, had few words.
“Go well with your excellence till we meet again. You have left deep pan-Africanist footprints. Africa is proud of you” he wrote.
President Kenyatta, President Chakwera hailed Dr Kaunda as the last of the giants of pan-Africanism.
Other dignitaries who wrote in the book of condolences are President of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo, President of Mozambique Filipe Nyusi and Chairperson of the African Union commission Moussa Faki among others.
Brief facts:
Kenneth David Buchizya Kaunda died aged 97.
Born to an ordained Church of Scotland missionary and teacher on April 28, 1924 at Lubwa Mission Hospital in Chinsali, Dr Kaunda led Zambia to independence from British colonial rule and became the first President of the Southern African Country in 1964.
He had his primary education at Lubwa and his secondary schooling at Munali Secondary School in Lusaka.
Taking after his father who was a reverend and a teacher from Nyasaland, now Malawi, Dr Kaunda became a teacher by profession, teaching in Northern Rhodesia then (Zambia) and Tanganyika now Tanzania.
Dr. Kaunda was married to the late Betty Kaunda for 66 years and ruled Zambia for 27 years.
