Tribute to a living African Legend: Dr. Kenneth Kaunda: The Founding Father of Zambia

Dr. Kenneth Kaunda was born in Lubwa Mission in Chinsali, Muchinga Province of Zambia into a Christian family.. His father was the Reverend David Kaunda, an ordained Church of Scotland missionary and teacher. He attended Munali Training Centre in Lusaka (August 1941–1943). This is Dr Kenneth David Kaunda, commonly known as KK, the founding father of the Republic of Zambia - the man with passion for peace and freedom in all African countries and even beyond.

Dr Kaunda was a teacher at the Upper Primary School and Boarding Master at Lubwa and then Headmaster at Lubwa from 1943 to 1945. In early 1948, he became a teacher in Mufulira town on the Copperbelt Province of Zambia for the United Missions to the Copperbelt (UMCB). He was an assistant at an African Welfare Centre and Boarding Master of a Mine School in Mufulira. In this period, he was leading a Pathfinder Scout Group and was Choirmaster at a Church of Central Africa Congregation. He was also for a time, the Vice-Secretary of the Nchanga Branch of Congress.

Dr. Kaunda began working for the independence movement as a young man at the age of 25. He travelled throughout the country on a bicycle, and a guitar slung over his shoulder. Singing “Freedom Songs” of his own composition, he helped organize the liberation movement. Since few could read or write, this was a particularly effective method of spreading his message.

The then young Dr. Kaunda thought long and hard about the best way to achieve independence. How could one resist authorities, he wondered, who shot workers simply for going on strike? The biggest problem for him was his belief that, as a Christian, he could not harm other human beings; yet how could the country's liberation be won without hurting anyone? He found himself between two fires, felt caught between his humanitarian principles and the practicalities of political action.

It was the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, shining “like gems in a river of mud,” that came to the then youthful Dr. Kaunda's rescue. He felt as if light had pierced a dark forest. Dr. Kaunda found the answer to his problem. Using his linguistic skills to appeal to public opinion in former colonial masters Britain or United Kingdom and the rest of the world, Dr. Kaunda won independence for Zambia without resorting to any violence. As he later wrote: “Had we acted on the basis of a blow for a blow, the history of the last days of Northern Rhodesia and the first days of Zambia would have been written in blood.”

Dr Kaunda worked hard, as much as 18 to 20 hours a day. He advocated humanism as the national philosophy, proposing universal education and health care. Copper prices remained high, and the country's economy was incredibly strong.

During his early presidency Dr Kaunda was an outspoken supporter of the anti-apartheid movement and opposed white minority rule in South Africa. He permitted most prominent organizations, such as the African National Congress [ANC], to use Zambia as a base for their struggle for independence. Former African National Congress president Oliver Tambo spent a significant proportion of his 30 year exile living and working in Zambia.

The price for this struggle for freedom was high. In retaliation, the white ruling elites closed their nations' borders, not even allowing rail traffic out of Zambia. The resulting rise in the cost of exporting goods was a life-or-death issue for the landlocked nation. The same governments encouraged plots to “topple Dr Kaunda” and waged a campaign to discourage foreign investment in the country.

But the people of Zambia endured all these and continued to accept refugees from their neighbours, until asylum seekers accounted for two per cent of the nation's population.

Peace is humanity's most pressing priority. Even after his retirement from the political scene, Dr. Kaunda has continued to speak out against the domination of the weak by the strong throughout the world. He urges that we look at the world through the eyes of the poorest nations and the people with the fewest advantages. And still today, Dr. Kaunda continues to fight on the front lines of the non-violent struggle for peace.

Apart from South Africa, Zambia helped fight for the independence of many other neighbouring countries like Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia among others.

In 1998, Zambia took the lead in efforts to establish a cease-fire in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. After the signing of a cease-fire agreement in Lusaka in July and August 1999, Zambia was active in supporting the Congolese peace effort.

Zambia also contributed troops to support UN peacekeeping operations in South Sudan. Zambia's history of stability and its commitment to regional peace has made it a haven for large numbers of refugees from many countries such as Angola, Rwanda, Burundi and Somali.

After retiring, Dr Kaunda has been involved in various charitable organizations. His most notable contribution has been his zeal in the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS. From 2002 to 2004, he was an African President-in-Residence at the African Presidential Archives and Research Centre at Boston University. Through the Kenneth Kaunda Children of Africa Foundation (KKCAF), Dr Kaunda has continued his desire to improve the lives of Zambians, especially the most vulnerable children. The Centre accommodates over 140 orphans and offers services to the vulnerable people and those living with HIV/AIDS.

Recently, he was seen in the attendance of an episode; “Dancing with The Stars” as Dr Kaunda is an avid ballroom dancer.

On 19 October 2007 Dr Kaunda was the recipient of the 2007 Ubuntu Award. The current President of Zambia Mr Michael Chilufya Sata has been making use of the former leader as a roving ambassador for Zambia.

Yes, Zambia has instinctively and tacitly made a resolution to cherish unity. That, regardless of tribal, ethnic, racial backgrounds or any differences, in Dr Kaunda's nation and successive leaderships in Zambia would always clasp our hands into one another's -as one wonderful, vibrant, progressive and victorious people.

We are exceedingly proud that in Dr Kaunda we have a patriarch and architect of the Zambian nation.

We are grateful that our own Dr KK has truly lived to be an embodiment of love, wisdom, selflessness, unity, fortitude and a progressive vision.

Prepared by Lambwe Kachali
First Secretary for Press and Public Relations
Embassy of the Republic of Zambia to Belgium, Netherlands, Luxemburg, ACP and The European Union [EU], Brussels