Kaunda’s wife dies

Kaunda Banda and her husband Jimmy Banda.
Musataa is a counsellor at the Zambian Embassy in Harare. Family spokesperson Mr Tilyenji Kaunda yesterday said Mrs Kaunda’s body would be repatriated to Zambia today in the afternoon for burial in Zambia.
He said Dr Kaunda arrived in the country yesterday to facilitate the repatriation. She will be buried at the Kaunda family village in Chinsali, 800km north of Lusaka.
“She had a long history of diabetes and high blood pressure. We thought it was getting better. We are told she went to sleep yesterday (Tuesday) and they just discovered her dead in the room in the morning (yesterday).”
He said burial arrangements would be announced later.
“Tomorrow there will be a church service here and another one in Zambia. The plane is expected to leave in the afternoon and by 1pm we will be in Zambia,” he said.
Zambian ambassador to Zimbabwe Mrs Ndiyoi Mutiti confirmed the death of the former first lady.
“I can confirm Mama Kaunda died here in Harare. She has a daughter who lives here so she passed on at her house last night,” she said.
Mrs Mutiti expressed shock at the death of Mrs Kaunda, saying although she was diabetic, she had been in good health when she arrived for the visit. Dr Kaunda and his wife celebrated the 66th anniversary of their marriage in August at a moving function in the Zambian capital, Lusaka.
The two have 10 children, 30 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
Dr Kaunda served as the first President of Zambia, from 1964 to 1991 before losing to Frederick Chiluba in multi-party elections.