Zambia’s founding president 'KK' to be buried on July 7

LUSAKA, Zambia 

Zambia’s founding president Kenneth Kaunda will be buried on July 7, three weeks after he died aged 97, the presidency announced on Monday.

The hero of the struggle against white rule in southern Africa “shall be put to rest… at a very private ceremony for family and selected invited mourners,” Vice President Inonge Wina said on state television.

He will be buried at the country’s presidential burial site situated opposite the cabinet office in Lusaka, following a state memorial to be held at the city’s 60,000-seat National Heroes Stadium on July 2.

In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, foreign leaders may be accompanied by just one official, she said.

Ahead of the funeral, Kaunda’s remains will be transported to the country’s 10 provinces starting Wednesday for people to pay their last respects to Zambia’s founding president, who ruled from 1964 until 1991 when he lost power to labour leader Fredrick Chiluba.

Wina said Kaunda’s body will be in a closed casket.

Kaunda died Thursday at a military hospital where he had been admitted days earlier with pneumonia.

The programme for taking the remains to the 10 regions begins on July 23, with a first stop at Choma, south of the region where Kaunda and his main rival, then African National Congress leader Harry Nkumbula, signed a truce to end rivalry and ushered in a one-party State in 1973.

Zambia has declared 21 days of national mourning while neighbouring states followed suit with most of them mourning for 10 days.

Kaunda ruled from 1964 until 1991 when he lost power to labour leader Fredrick Chiluba.

Chiluba and two other past Presidents, Levy Mwanawasa and Michael Sata, are also buried at the Lusaka site, which is regarded as equal to the Heroes Arc.

Earlier, social media was abuzz following reports that Kaunda preferred being buried next to his wife, Betty, at his residence in east Lusaka.