Kenneth Kaunda, Zambia’s Founding President Dies At 97
Kenneth Kaunda, Zambia’s founding president who led the Southern African nation for 27 years, has died at the age of 97.
Mr Kaunda’s death was announced Thursday by President Edgar Lungu in a message on his Facebook page.
“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 true African icon,” he wrote.
His son Kamarange Kaunda also gave the news of the statesman’s death on Facebook.
“I am sad to inform we have lost Mzee,” Mr Kaunda’s son wrote. “Let’s pray for him.”
The founding president was admitted to a military hospital on Monday in the capital Lusaka where he was being treated for pneumonia.
Mr Kaunda was Zambia’s first president following the country’s independence from Britain.
He led the country from 1964 until 1991 and is known as one of the giants in the continent’s fight against colonialism.
During his 27-year rule, he gave critical support to armed African nationalist groups that won independence for neighbouring countries including Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Mr Kaunda’s death was announced Thursday by President Edgar Lungu in a message on his Facebook page.
“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 true African icon,” he wrote.
His son Kamarange Kaunda also gave the news of the statesman’s death on Facebook.
“I am sad to inform we have lost Mzee,” Mr Kaunda’s son wrote. “Let’s pray for him.”
The founding president was admitted to a military hospital on Monday in the capital Lusaka where he was being treated for pneumonia.
Mr Kaunda was Zambia’s first president following the country’s independence from Britain.
He led the country from 1964 until 1991 and is known as one of the giants in the continent’s fight against colonialism.
During his 27-year rule, he gave critical support to armed African nationalist groups that won independence for neighbouring countries including Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
