President Yoweri Museveni has described Zambia founding father as an African freedom fighter who helpedany Ugandans during the country’s dark days.
Kaunda, an anti-colonial activisit died on Thursday aged 97.
BELOW IS MUSEVENI’S TRIBUTE
I have learnt with shock of the death of our elder, Mzee Kenneth Kaunda. Although God has blessed him with many years of life, departing at 97 years, since his brain was still sharp, we could have had more years of his wisdom.
Nevertheless, Mzee KK, as he was fondly called, made a big contribution in his life. He fought for Zambia’s independence and he made a big contribution to the freedom struggle of the liberation of the subcontinent of Southern Africa.
Here, I am referring to the liberation of Mozambique, Angola, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Namibia. In the late 60s for instance, I remember he enabled FRELIMO to open the third front in Tete Province of Mozambique.
This was in addition to the active Fronts of Cabo Delgado and Niassa which took the fight to the rear of the Portuguese colonialists and had a decisive impact in the defeat of the Portuguese in 1974.
Lusaka had representation from most of the Liberation movements in Southern Africa. He also welcomed Ugandan exiles, when we were fighting the dictatorship of Idi Amin. Many Ugandans got jobs and education in Zambia when they ran out of Uganda.
Therefore, in his long life, Mzee Kaunda made his contribution to the freedom of Africa. I salute his contribution and I salute his memory. May His soul rest in eternal peace.