Zambia’s first president Kenneth Kaunda has died aged 97.
Kaunda was the first democratically elected president of Zambia after gaining independence from Britain in 1964. He was in office until 1991.
He was admitted to Maina Soko military hospital in the capital Lusaka on Monday.
His administrative assistant Rodrick Ngolo said he was being treated for pneumonia, dispelling rumours that the nonagenarian had contracted the coronavirus.
Kaunda’s son, Kambarage confirmed his death on Thursday.
‘Pray for him’
“I am sad to inform (members) we have lost Mzee. Let’s pray for him,” Kambarage said on the late president’s Facebook page.
Kaunda, popularly known by his initials KK, was head of the main nationalist party, the left-of-centre United National Independence Party (UNIP) which led the country to freedom from British colonial rule.
Zambian President Edgar Lungu said the country was mourning “a true African icon”.
I learnt of your passing with great sadness. You have gone at a time we least expected but we are comforted that you are now with Our Father, God Almighty in heaven.
I pray that the Kaunda family is comforted as we mourn a true African icon.
“I learnt of your passing this afternoon with great sadness,” he wrote on Facebook. “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.”
Kalusha Bwalya, former captain of the national football team, also paid tribute to Kaunda saying he had made “an immense impact”.
Goodbye to you President Kenneth Kaunda. I am and will always be a proud member of the “KK11” . Dignity & honor. May your dear soul rest in Eternal Peace, knowing the immense impact you made on all of us Zambians, Africans and World at large. Sincerest condolences to family. pic.twitter.com/Xaia5aLqTq
— Kalusha Bwalya (@KalushaPBwalya) June 17, 2021
PICTURE: Twitter/@mpriyanshu
