Zambia celebrates the annual Kenneth Kaunda Day, the founding father of the nation, tomorrow.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, April 28, marks the annual day of Kenneth Kaunda, the founder of the state of Zambia and a peacemaker who embodied in his life the values of unity, service and love of country.

Kenneth Kaunda Day is an annual national holiday in Zambia dedicated to honoring the country's founding president, Kenneth Kaunda.

Who is Kenneth Kaunda?

Kenneth Kaunda was born on April 28, 1924, and played a pivotal role in the Zambian independence movement, serving as the country's first president from 1964 to 1991.

Kaunda came from an educated middle-class family; his father was a missionary teacher and his mother was the country's first qualified African teacher.

He followed in his parents' footsteps in Zambia (Northern Rhodesia), where he became a school principal before his twenty-first birthday. He then traveled to teach in Tanganyika (Tanzania), where he became a lifelong admirer of the future president Julius Nyerere, attempting to emulate his "Ujamaa" approach to African socialism.

Upon his return home, Kaunda campaigned against the British plan to create a federation comprising Southern Rhodesia and Northern Rhodesia with Nyasaland, which would increase the powers of the white settlers. Shortly after, he became the general secretary of the African National Congress of Northern Rhodesia. He was imprisoned for two months with hard labor for distributing “subversive leaflets.”.

In 1962, following pressure on the British occupation, parliamentary and presidential elections were held, and the United National Independence Party (UNIP) won, securing 55 out of 75 seats. The Zambian African National Congress (ZANC) won 10 seats, and the National Progressive Party (NPP) won all 10 seats reserved for white voters.

Kenneth Kaunda was elected prime minister and later that year president, as the country adopted a presidential system. Kaunda embraced the ideology of African socialism, closely aligned with Julius Nyerere in Tanzania. Economic policies focused on central planning and nationalization, and a one-party state was established.

Celebrating Kenneth Kaunda Day

In a telegram, President Hakainde Hichilema of the Republic of Zambia said: “Dear citizens, tomorrow, April 28, is Kenneth Kaunda Day, an occasion on which we honor Kenneth Kaunda, the founder of our nation; a patriot and peacemaker who embodied in his life the values of unity, service and love of country.”.

Hichilema added: “His timeless call, ”One Zambia, one nation, one people,” must remain our guiding principle. As we commemorate this occasion, let us rise above divisions, strengthen peace, and serve one another with humility, care, and purpose.”.

The President of the Republic of Zambia concluded: “Together, let us continue to build a stronger, more united and just Zambia for all. May God protect our nation.”.