Article by: Dumisane Dube
Zambia’s 97-year-old former president Kenneth Kaunda has died.
It was reported that Kaunda, the country’s founding father who ruled Zambia for 27 years, was admitted to Maina Soko military hospital in the capital Lusaka on Monday.
It is alleged that he was admitted for pneumonia.
The former president was born in April 1924 at Lubwa Mission in the northern province of the Republic of Zambia.
He was popularly known by his initials KK. Kaunda started playing a continental role in 1963 when he became President of the Pan-African Freedom movement for East, Central and Southern Africa.
Kaunda 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.
He was also close to veterans of the South African liberation movement such as Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Chris Hani and others.
Tributes are pouring in on social media.
For more updates visit our website and remember to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
