KK celebrates 84th birthday

KK celebrates 84th birthday
By Brighton Phiri and Mwila Chansa
Monday April 28, 2008 [04:00]

DR Kenneth Kaunda has asked Zambians to use the forces of love to overcome their problems. And Dr Kaunda’s grandson, Pelekamoyo on Saturday called on Zambians to use his grandfather’s birthday to reflect on the struggles and sacrifice made by freedom fighters for Zambia. In his birthday message which falls today, Dr Kaunda said forces of love were very important in life.

“I don’t think there is something we can do of importance that our God creator wants us to do without the weapon of love. I am saying the forces of love can help us overcome many of our problems,” Dr Kaunda, who has turned 84, said. “If your woman does something wrong, one has the duty to explain why you are angry against her actions. In every situation, even at State House, when things went wrong I was guided by the forces of love and not hatred. Out of love comes respect. Anything good comes out of the forces of love.”

He said it was the forces of love that guided his colleagues’ contribution towards the liberation struggle of Southern Africa. Dr Kaunda said he worked well with his colleagues during UNIP’s reign because his trust for them were motivated by love. He asked Zambians to use the forces of love to save the extended family system from extinction.

“From my small allowance, I pay school fees for my great grandchildren who are my children in the African sense. If we are guided by the forces of love, I see no way we can become English in culture. It is important that we strengthen our extended family systems instead of following cultures of people from different origins,” he said.

Dr Kaunda paid tribute to his wife Betty and late mother Hellen for contributing towards sustaining the Kaunda family.

“I am very grateful to that young lady called Betty. She loves her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. I am the only one left from the original Kaunda family. In this love for my children, nephews, nieces grandchildren and great grandchildren, I am guided by one theme and that is to appreciate the teachings of ‘love thy neighbour as thy self’. ‘Do to others as you would have them do unto you’.

I find this teaching very important in my life,” he said. “One thing I remember clearly about my mother is that one day I was playing with Lubwa Mission headteacher’s son Titus who was of my age. While playing, for some reason, for the first time since I had never hit my fellow child, I started beating Titus and my mother came with a whip and whipped me and I stopped beating my friend.

That was a loving mother, I can tell you. A very loving mother and indeed that is how she brought me up in that spirit of love thy neighbour. This is the kind of discipline I was brought up with. Everyday, we prayed before going to school and bed. Another thing my mother always told me was that… a place for everything and everything in its place and that was her discipline to ensure that everything was in order.”

And speaking during his grandfather’s birthday celebrations which were held two days earlier at his Kabulonga office on Saturday, Pelekamoyo, 18, urged Zambians to learn from Dr Kaunda while he was still alive because they would have no where to go when he dies.

Pelekamoyo, who is Colonel Panji Kaunda’s son, applauded Dr Kaunda for inspiring not only the family but the whole nation. He said the struggles of the freedom fighters were not easy as they gave up everything to ensure that Zambia was liberated.
Pelekamoyo said though there were a lot of challenges in Zambia, they could be overcome if people worked together.

“Let us be one as a nation and help each other in whatever little way that we can,” said Pelekamoyo.

An emotional Dr Kaunda played the guitar and sang for his wife Betty to whom he attributed all his success. He recalled that when he was in prison, Betty went to the extent of getting a licence from the forestry department to enable her cut down trees which she used to make charcoal for domestic use.

“I am 84 years younger today because of this young girl. Despite her ill health, she still manages the home in my absence as I am usually out,” said Dr Kaunda.

He applauded all mothers for the role they played in society.
And chief of staff in the Office of the First President, Godwin Mfula, said Dr Kaunda stood for peace, reconciliation and all that was good about humanity. He urged current leaders to emulate Dr Kaunda and his colleagues in working together for the country’s development.

The birthday party was attended by various diplomats accredited to Zambia, clergy, family members, St Kizito Catholic choir, St Paul’s UCZ choir and Mt Sinai UCZ choir.