EDITORIAL | Many African countries owe their freedom to Kenneth Kaunda

Not many leaders possess the clarity of political thought and the precision necessary for action that Kenneth Kaunda had. His demise on Thursday was a loss not just for the people of Zambia, but Africa at large. 

The former Zambian president, with his comrades, believed in pursuing peace to free the people of that country, then known as Northern Rhodesia, from the yoke of colonialism. He could have closed Zambia’s borders and focused on improving its economy, as many urge SA to do today. However, he sought freedom, peacefully, beyond his country.

He was among a few on the subcontinent who openly defied armed Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), South West Africa (Namibia) and apartheid SA to create headquarters for political parties fighting for freedom across the region. His country’s capital, Lusaka, became, at his instigation, a citadel of Africa’s yearning for freedom. 

The People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola, Zimbabwe African People’s Union (Zapu), South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo), Liberation Front of Mozambique (Frelimo), the ANC’s Umkhonto we Sizwe and the Azanian People’s Liberation Army (Apla) were able, through Kaunda’s vision and financial support, to pursue their battle for freedom from Lusaka. This is why many activists, including those who have never left this country, would gleefully chant “Siyaya eLusaka”, meaning we are going to Lusaka, believing it represented a major threat to apartheid rule.

Even when his United National Independence Party lost elections, Kaunda was not among the archetypal 'Big Men of Africa' who believed democracy must be tweaked to serve them.

Lusaka embodied hope for many oppressed people. It represented a great threat to minority rule in SA, especially after victories in the pursuit of freedom in Mozambique in 1975, in Zimbabwe in 1980 and Namibia in 1990. When apartheid SA succumbed in 1994, many knew this was largely because of the crucial role Kaunda played in funding and politically guiding leaders of oppressed people in Africa.

Kaunda also played a key role, with Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Samora Machel of Mozambique, Dr Agostinho Neto of Angola and Sir Seretse Khama of Botswana, in establishing SADC forerunner the Frontline States. The predicate was how to harness the subcontinent’s political and intellectual capital and use it to boost economic growth. But the SADC, sadly, has become a talkshop, unable to speedily intervene in Mozambique, for example, when insurgents took control of Cabo Delgado recently. That later-day execution has fallen flat does not, however, negate the importance of the unity Kaunda and his peers forged. 

So as Zambians bid farewell to the man who brought them freedom, so too should many South Africans, Angolans, Mozambicans and Namibians. For their freedom can directly be traced to how Kaunda used his country’s resources for the benefit of many. He believed Zambians could never be free if their neighbours were not.   

Far from perfect, Kaunda nationalised the copper industry in his country, a move that led to large-scale borrowing and his electoral defeat in 1991. Even when his United National Independence Party lost elections, Kaunda was not among the archetypal “Big Men of Africa” who believed democracy must be tweaked to serve them. He peacefully handed over power to trade unionist Frederick Chiluba after 27 years, sending a message to many dictators on the continent at the time that multiparty democracy is more important than self-interest. 

Kaunda’s life shone an important light on Africa’s path to democracy at a difficult time in the continent’s development. The 250 million people in SADC today are indebted to him, and many others, for freedom. Kaunda came, played his part and is now gone. This African giant will remain in many people’s hearts.

Today’s generation of African leaders have much to learn from Kaunda when they tackle the challenge of the moment — Africa’s economic development.