KENNETH KAUNDA

Kenneth Kaunda was born on April 28, 1924, at Lubwa Mission in Chinsali, Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), as the youngest of eight children. His father, Reverend David Kaunda, was a missionary and teacher from Nyasaland (modern-day Malawi), while his mother was the first African woman to teach in colonial Northern Rhodesia. Raised in a family dedicated to education and faith, Kaunda followed in their footsteps by becoming a teacher.

In the mid-1940s, Kaunda moved from Northern Rhodesia to Tanganyika Territory (now Tanzania) and also spent time working in Southern Rhodesia. He attended the Munali Training Centre in Lusaka between 1941 and 1943. Influenced by the writings of Mahatma Gandhi, he embraced ideals of non-violence and social justice early in his career.

Kaunda’s political journey began in 1949 when he helped found the Northern Rhodesian African National Congress (ANC). By 1953, he became the ANC’s Secretary General, working closely with Harry Nkumbula. Despite their efforts to resist the European-led Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, they faced opposition and eventual imprisonment. Kaunda’s split from Nkumbula led him to form the Zambian African National Congress (ZANC) in 1958, which was soon banned. After his release from prison, he took leadership of the United National Independence Party (UNIP), which would later spearhead Zambia’s independence movement.

In 1964, after Zambia gained independence, Kenneth Kaunda became its first president. He focused on education reform, aiming to address the country’s inadequate education system. His administration prioritized access to education, opening institutions such as the University of Zambia and Copperbelt University, as well as vocational schools and teacher-training colleges. Under his leadership, the country’s education sector expanded significantly, though it continued to face challenges.

Zambia’s economy initially thrived due to its mineral wealth, especially copper, but Kaunda’s policies of nationalization and economic planning, including in the copper mining industry, faced setbacks when global copper prices declined in the 1970s. The resulting economic struggles were compounded by Kaunda’s socialist policies, which often led to further difficulties. By the 1980s, Zambia was heavily in debt, and these economic issues contributed to Kaunda's eventual loss of power.

Throughout his presidency, Kaunda maintained an authoritarian style of governance, creating a one-party state and suppressing opposition. Despite these internal policies, he remained a champion of anti-colonial and anti-apartheid movements across Southern Africa, offering support to liberation movements and housing exiled leaders. His leadership extended to diplomacy, where he played a crucial role in regional politics, particularly in relation to Rhodesia, Angola, and Namibia.

By the 1990s, mounting internal pressures, economic instability, and growing opposition led Kaunda to call for a referendum on multi-party democracy, although he personally supported the continuation of the one-party system. In the 1991 elections, Kaunda and his UNIP party were decisively defeated by Frederick Chiluba and the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD). After leaving office, Kaunda had a tumultuous relationship with Chiluba’s government, facing legal challenges and even house arrest following a 1997 coup attempt. By 1998, Kaunda officially retired from politics, dedicating his later years to charitable efforts, including raising awareness of HIV/AIDS.

Kenneth Kaunda passed away on June 17, 2021, at the age of 97, following a brief illness. His legacy includes not only his role in Zambia’s independence and his advocacy for regional liberation but also his commitment to social justice, education, and humanitarian causes.

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Kaunda