CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
by Justin Mupundu, Zambia, April 1999
THEME = PERSONALITIES
Kenneth Kaunda belongs to that generation of Africa's political
leaders
who worked for independence while their countries
were still under colonial rule...
and there's still plenty of fight left in the ageing politician!
The following is a personal profile of a man who has left his mark on Zambia's history
The grey-haired, 74-year old, former president, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, will probably not retire from active politics and will do his level best to contest the year 2001 presidential elections. The Constitution effectively barred Dr. Kaunda from contesting the 1996 elections. But the Supreme Court then opened the door for him by declaring that all who were living in Zambia after independence, automatically had the right to become Zambian citizens. This was the ruling delivered on 10 November 1998 by Chief Justice Matthews Ngulube. Kenneth Kaunda, the "old man", then told a press conference that he was going to retire from active politics, but did he? Certainly not! Today, he seems determined to run for the presidency.
The government has threatened to withhold his retirement benefits, but Dr. Kaunda has vowed not to be told by anyone he must retire from active politics. He still sees himself as Zambia's natural leader, and besides, there is squabbling within his own United National Independence Party (UNIP) which has to be sorted out.
Dr. Kaunda still seems to be the only serious challenger to President Frederick Chiluba in the race for the presidency. But will he make it? Zambia's citizens continue to respect one who was to the forefront in their country's struggle for independence and who has managed to hold their country together for many years, but does he still have a chance to return as President? Kaunda may probably get many votes in the year 2001 election, but not enough to win.
Nevertheless, the two protagonists have some things in common. Both Dr. Kaunda and President Chiluba are members of the United Church of Zambia. Both are associated closely with founding their respective political parties: Dr. Kaunda - UNIP and Mr Chiluba is one of the founders of the ruling Movement for Multi- Party Democracy (MMD). Both men's wives are from the Eastern province and both have nine children! Also, in their political careers, both Kaunda and Chiluba owe much to the support given by other international leaders - Kenneth Kaunda to Nelson Mandela of South Africa, and Frederick Chiluba to Fidel Castro of Cuba. The ballot box has also determined their present political situations - Dr. Kaunda left State House when he was defeated in the 1991 elections; Chiluba entered State House through winning the same elections.
Their appearances in public tell us a lot, perhaps, about the two leaders. Kaunda always used to appear in public, dressed in safari suits - now he's seen in jeans and t-shirts at public rallies. Chiluba occasionally used to don a suit - now when he's on TV, he's always in a suit. At first, Kaunda always liked to be addressed as "Your Excellency". He, then dropped, that title and preferred to be addressed as "Mr President". Chiluba, on the other hand, is known to admire pomp.
The latest twist in Dr. Kaunda's attempt to engineer a political come-back occurred on 31 March, this year, when the Ndola High Court Judge, Chalendo Sakala, declared Dr. Kaunda to be a "stateless person". He said the former president of Zambia was neither Zambian nor Malawian (referring to his parents who came from Malawi). The judge ordered the Citizenship Board of Zambia to quash Kaunda's Zambian nationality. He said that Acting Home Affairs Minister, John Mwanakatwe, made a serious error when, in 1970, he granted Dr. Kaunda, Zambian citizenship.
Kaunda's Defence Counsel has appealed to the Supreme Court for a "stay of execution" on the order to remove Kaunda's citizenship.
Perhaps people prefer to remember that Kenneth Kaunda was born in Zambia and has spent all his 75 years in Zambia and has invested all his energy within Zambia.
END
CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
PeaceLink 1999 - Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgement