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Sifelani Tsiko
Agric, Environment & Innovations Editor
World leaders continued to pay tribute to Dr Kenneth Kaunda, Zambia’s founding president and Pan Africa revolutionary leader, who was a key figure in building a formidable Frontline States movement to spearhead the liberation and independence of the greater part of southern African.
Dr Kaunda died on June 17 at age 97.
He led his country from Independence in 1964 to 1991.
A veteran nationalist and revered leader – Dr Kaunda’s authority derived in no small degree from the fact that while other African leaders pontificated, he remained unflagging and stood in the front line in the fight against the racist UDI regime of Ian Smith and the apartheid regime in South Africa.
Zambia bore the brunt of Rhodesia and apartheid South Africa’s attacks and numerous acts of destabilisation.
Dr Kaunda’s country, Zambia, was tied in by trade, finance, agriculture, business structure and communications to Rhodesia, South Africa and the entire southern Africa.
It could have been possible for Dr Kaunda to assert Zambia’s economic independence through the country’s copper profits through measured and covert co-operation with Rhodesia and apartheid South Africa, to Zambia’s benefit.
But KK, as he was affectionately called, opted to stand for the African liberation cause and independence.
As a towering and visionary leader, KK became an influential figure and an inspiring example for the oppressed majority in Rhodesia, South Africa and Namibia.
He developed strategic cooperation with all key liberation movements in southern Africa, putting himself and his people at the risk of apartheid Rhodesia and South Africa’s bombing raids, assassination squads and a host of military and political destabilisation acts.
All this left his people to bear the pain and unimaginable suffering, poverty and the infringements of their fundamental human rights to peace and security.
KK saw how freedom fighters and his people endured the horrors of bombing raids and assassination of key revolutionary leaders up to a victorious moment when the struggling masses of Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa finally attained the freedom they so richly deserved.
Rhodesians and apartheid South Africa underestimated the role that Dr Kaunda was to play in thwarting their plans to maintain their white supremacist rule in the two colonial countries.
At the time, Sir Seretse Khama of Botswana and Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda made their necessary accommodation with the white regimes that surrounded and economically dominated them even though in a very different spirit, Khama later became one of the four presidents who co-ordinated policy against Rhodesia and apartheid South Africa.
Dr Banda, remained more isolated for his contempt for the liberation movements and the Organisation of African Unity.
Dr Kaunda, the humble, affable and resolute leader made no such accommodation.
He set about cutting Zambia off from the southern octopuses — Rhodesia and South Africa — at a huge price, giving asylum to the liberation movements operating both against Portugal, Rhodesia and apartheid South Africa.
Zambia joined in sanctions, with some tactical compromises in the fight against the racist regimes.
Out of anger, Smith closed the border and the railway to teach Zambia its ‘dependence,’ but Dr Kaunda closed it on his side and never reopened it when Smith realised his mistake and back-tracked.
Zambia was enjoying a copper boom and this gave Dr Kaunda the funds to build the alternative roads and the pipeline through Tanzania to the sea.
Portugal kept the Benguela rail link open to Zambia in strict conformity with international agreements and the rights of landlocked states.
The capacity of the line was increased, even though the Portuguese were backing Rhodesia, particularly on sanctions.
Dr Kaunda was indispensable to Zambia and all the southern African liberation movements.
Without his guidance, his vision, his charisma and what analysts at the time called it — his ‘political adroitness,’ Zambia and all the liberation movements might have succumbed or become disjointed to the accumulating stresses brought about by Rhodesian and apartheid South Africa’s destabilisation acts.
KK outlasted the stresses which later brought down Rhodesia, apartheid South Africa and Namibia.
He became a pivotal figure to all black Africa’s hopes of capturing Rhodesia and Namibia and of drawing the black cordon against South Africa.
Without Kaunda’s leadership in Zambia, his pan African vision and revolutionary spirit, it would have been infinitely harder to fight the southern ‘octupuses’ — Rhodesia and apartheid South Africa.
In appreciation of his contribution to their various struggles, most African and southern African countries, in particular, announced varying periods of mourning and lowered their national flags to half-mast.
Zimbabwe
President Mnangagwa said: “It was with a sense of shock and deep sorrow that I learnt of the passing on of His Excellency Dr Kenneth David Kaunda. The passing on of this renowned Pan Africanist and elder statesman, has robbed the Kaunda family and the people of Zambia, and indeed the rest of Africa, of an exemplary Father, an astute politician and leader whose immense contribution to the liberation of Southern African countries from colonial rule is well documented and acknowledged by the international community.
“On behalf of the Government and people of Zimbabwe and indeed on my own behalf, I wish to convey our most sincere condolences to you and through you to the Kaunda Family, the Government and people of Zambia, on this sad loss.”
Zambia
In a statement, President Edgar Lungu said: “It is with deep regret and sorrow that I announce to the nation and the international community the passing of our beloved founding father, icon, and global statesman Kenneth Kaunda, First President of Zambia.”
Mozambique
SADC chairperson, President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi of Mozambique said: “The SADC region and the entire African continent are very grateful for the important contribution of former President Kenneth Kaunda to our common efforts to bring about and defend independence, peace and security in the region and across the continent.
“In fact, his gigantic legacy will shine forever and will inspire the present and future generation of leaders in Zambia, in the region, across the African continent and beyond.”
South Africa
President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa said: “He was a pioneering champion of a decolonised, united and prosperous Africa. We bow our heads in grief at the passing of a beloved and rightfully revered father of African independence and unity — President Kenneth “KK” Kaunda. We recommit ourselves to building the Africa of KK’s vision — an Africa of peace, justice, prosperity and innovation.”
Botswana
President Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana said: “I have learnt of the demise of Kenneth Kaunda the founding father of Zambia, a great statesman, and African leader. Kaunda was Botswana’s best friend and together with the likes of Sir Seretse Khama, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere championed the liberation and independence of our region.”
Rwanda
Rwandan President Paul Kagame said in a tweet: “Kaunda’s commitment to Africa’s liberation will never be forgotten. His leadership on the continent and legacy of Pan-Africanism will live on for generations to come.”
China
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said: “Mr Kaunda was an internationally renowned and the older generation of leader, politician and social activist of African independence movements. Mr Kaunda had been committed to the friendship of the two countries, and set forth the innovative expression of ‘all-weather friendship’, an accurate and expressive description of China-Zambia relations.”
UK
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “The UK Government extends its sincere condolences to the people of the Republic of Zambia on the death of former President Kenneth Kaunda. Dr Kaunda was the defining figure in Zambia’s independence movement and laid the successful foundations of your nation, through his leadership, vision, and famous mantra ‘One Zambia One Nation’. He was greatly admired too as a staunch activist against apartheid and a campaigner to address HIV/AIDS. Our thoughts are with his family and the people of Zambia at this time of mourning.”
Dr Kaunda will forever be remembered for his service to the people of Zambia, Africa and the entire world.
His mantra: ‘One Zambia, One Nation’ will forever be etched in our minds and his legacy will earn a place in our history.
Nothing will erase Dr Kaunda’s legacy — a great leader who fought for the defence of peace, independence and security in Africa.
He will be remembered as Africa’s true son who played a crucial role in the movement that led Zambia to self-determination and full independence, as well as for supporting liberation movements fighting for independence and standing up to white minority rule in countries such as Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter