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The Rhodesia Herald, November 12 1962
MR KAUNDA, leader of Northern Rhodesia’s UNIP, appealed to his supporters at a mass open-air meeting here today not to indulge in racial bitterness despite their disappointment in the failure of Europeans and Asians to support UNIP in the October elections.
Mr Kaunda was given a five-minute standing ovation by the crowd of about 8 000 Africans when he arrived at the meeting.
He said: “I want to see no signs of racial bitterness,” and told his followers that “for the sake of the good ones,” they should not hate the whites or Asians, reports Sapa-Reuter.
Mr Kaunda also asked his supporters to promise with a show of hands to “keep the peace,” and not to fight or quarrel with members of the rival African National Congress, with which UNIP hoped to form a coalition government.
Such a coalition was one of three possible solutions to the “crisis” here. The others were intervention by the British Government to give Northern Rhodesia a new constitution, and Europeans voting for “reason and progress” in the by-elections next month for 10 national seats so that UNIP could win them. Mr. Kaunda said: “We are men of principle and are not prepared to sacrifice our principles, Welensky or no Welensky.”
If UNIP, with its majority of votes, did not form the next government then “no other political party will form a government.”
LESSONS FOR TODAY
President Kenneth Kaunda’s leadership had a profound impact on Northern Rhodesia, which became Zambia after gaining independence. Kaunda was a central figure in the struggle for independence from British colonial rule. He led the United National Independence Party (UNIP) and played a crucial role in mobilising support for the cause.
Inspired by leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., Kaunda advocated for non-violent resistance. His “Cha-cha-cha” campaign involved civil disobedience and protests, which were instrumental in pressuring the British government to grant independence.
He was a vocal opponent of apartheid and white minority rule in neighbouring countries. He supported liberation movements and provided refuge to freedom fighters from countries like South Africa and Zimbabwe.
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