Independence Fighter And Founding President of Zambia is dead

Independence liberator and founding president OF Zambia is dead. Kenneth Kaunda whose death was confirmed on Thursday by the current President through a facebook post that stated, ‘’ I learnt of your passing this afternoon with great sadness. On behalf of the entire nation and on my own behalf I pray that the entire Kaunda family is comforted as we mourn our first President and a true African icon.’’

Before his demise, he had been undergoing treatment in a classified military hospital in Lusaka where he was being treated of pneumonia.

Kenneth Kaunda became the first President of Zambia in 1964 and ruled until 1991 for 27 years through UNIP which originally was ZANC. During liberation for independence, the founding president was inspired by Mahtama Gadhi philosophy of peaceful civil disobedience through a movement that was referred as cha cha cha. In 1959 after founding ZANC, the party was banned and he was jailed for months. It is after the jail term that he rebranded the party to UNIP immediately after release.

After independence, Kaunda banned multiparty system and made Zambia a one party system. This attracted criticism on his government to a point he was accused of dictatorship. At one point, Kenneth Kaunda was forced to defend himself by saying that he was not a dictator and the one party system was a bargained with people for there was no other no other thing to do at that specific time.

Kaunda also argued on CNN that together with his colleagues they agreed to make Zambia a one party state for there was no way they could have liberated Zambia from the minority white men rule if they were divided into different factions.

In 1991, local and international pressure yielded results for the opposition and multiparty system came back to life in Zambia.

On the same year during the general elections, Kenneth Kaunda was given a run for his money and power by Fredrick Chiluba and lost the elections bringing to an end his 27 years regime to a halt. Kaunda conceded defeat by waving his trademark of the white handkachief using the left hand.

In 1996, he attempted to contest again for presidency but Fredrick Chiluba amended the constitution on citizenship of the country. As per the amendment, anyone whose parents were foreigners was declared a foreigner thus he could not vie for the presidency.

Beyond politics, he will be remembered for his charming mastery of words and ability to whip masses using repetition as he emphasized on key issues while holding his trademark of a white handkerchief signifying peace.

He was also be remembered for championing fight against HIV and Aids after his son succumbed to it in 1986 and in aiding South African countries like South Africa itself and Zambambwe gain independence.