By SIMON MUNTEMBA
LATE Kenneth Kaunda’s ideals of humanism, which were founded on his strong Christian faith and values, defined his leadership qualities and the vision that he embodied for Zambia, the African continent and the world at large, President Edgar Lungu has said.
And President Lungu has called on political players to emulate Dr Kaunda in upholding peace and unity especially ahead of the polls this year.
He said Dr. Kaunda was an iconic Pan-Africanist and global statesman, who was selfless, seeing the goodness in others first, before himself.
Speaking when he visited the residence of the late founding father and Zambia’s first president yesterday, President Lungu said that it was a turning point for the country especially when various political players were competing for political leadership ahead of the 2021 general elections.
President Lungu said his untimely death was a great loss not only to his family, but to the entire nation, the Southern African region, the African continent and indeed the world at large.
And family spokesperson Panji Kaunda thanked President Lungu and the government for their support.
Colonel Kaunda who is Dr Kaunda’s eldest child assured President Lungu that his family would cooperate with the government to ensure the funeral programme was done accordingly.
Meanwhile, veteran politician Sikota Wina said the death of Dr Kaunda was a big loss to the nation and the African continent as a whole.
Mr Wina said he could not believe that the selfless great leader was no more. Mr Wina served in Zambia’s first cabinet after independence on October 24, 1964.
Another veteran politician Vernon Mwaanga said the death of Dr Kaunda “is devastating, particularly for those who worked closely with him over a period of nearly six decades, starting during the struggle for independence.
