Former heads of states from SADC toast KK’s 95th Birthday

Kenneth David Buchizya Kaunda (born 28 April 1924also known as KKis a Zambian former politician who served as the first President of Zambia from 1964 to 1991.

Kaunda is the youngest of eight children born to an ordained Church of Scotland missionary and teacher.

 He followed his father’s steps in becoming a teacher. He was at the forefront of the struggle for independence from British rule.

 Dissatisfied with Harry Nkumbula’s leadership of the Northern Rhodesian African National Congress, he broke away and founded the Zambian African National Congress, later becoming the head of the United National Independence Party.

 He was the first President of the independent Zambia. In 1973 following tribal and inter-party violence, all political parties except UNIP were banned through an amendment of the constitution after the signing of the Choma Declaration.

 At the same time, Kaunda oversaw the acquisition of majority stakes in key foreign-owned companies.

 The oil crisis of 1973 and a slump in export revenues put Zambia in a state of economic crisis. International pressure forced Kaunda to change the rules that had kept him in power.

Multi-party elections took place in 1991, in which Frederick Chiluba, the leader of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy, ousted Kaunda.

Kaunda was briefly stripped of Zambian citizenship in 1999, but the decision was overturned the following year.

But  last Sunday Kaunda celebrated his 95th birday, he is currently the oldest living former Zambian president.

Namibia’s former Presidents Samuel Nujoma and Hifikepunye Pohamba, and Botswana’s former President Festus Mogae attending KK’s birthday party and have returned to their respective countries after attending Dr. Kenneth Kaunda’s 95th birthday.

The visiting former presidents were seen off by Zambia’s fourth republican president Rupiah Banda and other senior government officials.

Earlier in the day the visiting former Presidents who were led by former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano who is the Chairperson of the Africa Forum laid wreaths at the mausoleums of Zambia’s fallen Presidents.

This was at the Presidential burial site at the embassypark and later paid a courtesy call on President Edgar Lungu at State house.

And Former South African President Jacob Zumba has described Zambia’s Founding President Kenneth Kaunda as a symbol of dedication to the complete decolonisation of Africa.

Mr Zuma said Dr Kaunda put the country on the path of development and peace.

On the occasion to celebrate Dr Kaunda’s 95th birthday, Mr Zuma said Dr Kaunda inspired all the freedom fighters in the region and beyond.

Below is Mr Zuma’s full statement

Today we celebrate the 95th birthday of one of the greatest leaders of our people in the struggle to liberate the continent of Africa from colonialism and imperialism.

President Kenneth Kaunda led the sister people of Zambia to independence from Britain in 1964.

His government embarked on an ambitious program to raise the quality of life of his people especially in the field of education.

He understood better that the freedom of Zambia was incomplete without the liberation of the rest of the region and the continent at large.

At great cost to the country he did not flinch from providing material and diplomatic support and sanctuary to the liberation struggles led by the African National Congress of South Africa, Front for the Liberation of Mozambique, South West African People’s Organization, as well as the Zimbabwe African People’s Union and Zimbabwe African National Union.

It was from Zambia that the combined forces of Umkhonto WeSizwe, the military wing of the ANC together with the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army of ZAPU, infiltrated then Southern Rhodesia to fight the occupation army of the settler regime led by Ian Smith and supported by the Apartheid regime of South Africa in the Wanki and Sipolilo Campaigns in 1967 and 1968.

Under his leadership the Zambian government embarked on a systematic program of nationalizing key industries that were wholly owned by foreign companies.

These measures for full national sovereignty were however disrupted by a sharp drop in the international price of copper which was by far the main source of foreign exchange.

The economic transformation of the country was dealt a mortal blow as Zambia was force-fed with the poisonous prescriptions of the International Monetary Fund, including the requirement to scale back on investment in human development.

To minimize dependence on South African ports and harbours the government of Zambia was compelled to construct the TAZARA rail line to Dar es Salaam with the support of China.

President Kaunda inspired all the freedom fighters in the region and beyond.

He is a symbol of dedication to the complete decolonisation of Africa and putting on the path of development and peace.

Zambia was home from home for many leaders and combatants of Umkhonto WeSizwe between various deployments. Late President Oliver Tambo operated from Lusaka for over two decades.

Together with Presidents Muwalimu Julius Nyerere of Tanzania and Sir Seretse Khama of Botswana President Kaunda founded the Frontline States that were later joined by Angola an Mozambique in 1975 and Zimbabwe in 1979.

Such was the stature of President Kaunda that the Apartheid regime of John Vorster tried to win him over in its plans to maintain its grip on South and South West Africa/Namibia. He made it clear that his support for freedom for the sister people of these countries was unshakeable.

President Kaunda is a recipient of the South African National Order of Companions of Oliver Tambo in Gold for exceptional contribution in the struggle against apartheid and for justice in the southern African region.

We who come after him have benefited and continue to draw from his wisdom, generosity and steadfastness in belief in humanism and building a better Africa and a better world.

Unity, peace and development in the Southern African Development community and indeed the continent as a whole is an achievement of great statesmen like President Kaunda and his peers.

As we confront the relentless attempts by imperialistic forces to defeat our revolutions in the region we are happy to have you President Kaunda as a guide and fountain of inspiration to resist their machinations.

We shall continue to strive to silence the guns and build a prosperous Africa.

We join the leaders and sister people of Zambia to wish  himGood Health!

And current South African President South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, also sent good wishes to Zambia’s founding president and liberation hero Dr Kenneth Kaunda on his 95th birthday.

In an official message to the Zambian High Commission in Pretoria and also released to the press, President Ramaphosa said the selfless attributes that Dr Kaunda embodied which propelled him to continue the fight against imperialism, colonialism and apartheid, and his notable heroic sacrifices that contributed to South Africa’s political freedom and the emancipation of other countries in the region and beyond remain to be admired.

He said as South Africa celebrated its 25th year of liberation on April 27, 2019, this significant milestone brought into fore fond recollections of those who contributed to its freedom.

“Well wishes to former President of the Republic of Zambia, Dr Kenneth Kaunda on his 95th Birthday.

The President paid tribute to Dr Kaunda for the selfless attributes that he embodied which propelled him to continue the fight against imperialism, colonialism and apartheid, his notable heroic sacrifices that contributed to South Africa’s political freedom and the emancipation of other countries in the region and beyond.

 As South Africa celebrated its 25th year of liberation on 27 April 2019, this significant milestone brought into fore fond recollections of those who contributed to this freedom.

High amongst those being the iconic founding father of liberation in the region in the person of Dr Kaunda, whose great leadership and formidable conviction remain a source of inspiration to the current and latter generations to jealously guard this freedom gained through many years of struggle,” read the message delivered by Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Khusela Diko.

“President Ramaphosa further stated that “On behalf of the government of South Africa, the people and indeed on my own behalf, we join you and your family, the people of Zambia, Africa and the world at large, Your Excellency, in celebrating your 95th birthday.

We remain indebted to the contributions you made in your lifetime towards the liberation of our country and the SADC region. Please accept my warm personal best wishes for good health and may God Almighty continue to grant you unparalleled longevity.”

Long live KK!!