Rose Onda
A former Zambia President, Kenneth Kaunda is dead.
He was 96.
Kaunda was born in Chinsali, the Northern Province of Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). Kaunda was a qualified teacher and taught in a number of schools for years. In 1951, he left teaching to become Organising Secretary of the Northern Rhodesian African National Congress for the Northern Province.
In 1959, Kaunda broke away from the ANC and formed his own party, the Zambian National Congress (ZANC).
In 1964, Kaunda became the first president of an independent Zambia. He remained in power until 1991, when he stepped down following pressure from his own people and the international community.
He was succeeded by Frederick Chiluba. Since stepping down as president, Kaunda has been involved in various charitable organisations.
The late Kaunda wrote his popular autobiography ‘Zambia Shall Be Free’ in 1962.