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(NEWZIMBABWE) African Heritage Society honours KK

African Heritage Society honours KK
Written by Chibaula Silwamba
Monday, July 20, 2009 4:59:41 PM

FORMER president Dr Kenneth Kaunda has been honoured with the Lifetime Achievement award by the African Heritage Society in honour of his contribution to the liberation struggle in southern Africa, particularly South Africa and Zimbabwe.

According to a media statement issued by second secretary for press at the Zambian High Commission in South Africa Philip Chirwa, two daughters of South African President Jacob Zuma presented the award to Dr Kaunda on behalf of the African Heritage Society on Saturday night at Sandton International Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

At least 500 high-profile guests among them former Tanzanian president Ali Hassan Mwinyi, former prime minister of Swaziland Prince Dlamini, governing African National Congress (ANC) treasurer general Mathews Phosa and other top ANC leaders and prominent Zambians resident in South Africa attended the ceremony.

In his acceptance speech, Dr Kaunda said the honour could not be attributed to his work alone but many other individuals. He said he was aware that many people had made it possible for him to be honoured and their contribution was as important as his.

"It is the sum total of the contributions of many people some of whom may not have the privilege to be recognized. Suffice to say that their contribution is no less in value because it provided a vital link to the realisation of our common objective," said Dr Kaunda. "There are many of our compatriots who are worthy this award. Africa will forever remain grateful for their service."

Zambia's High Commissioner to South Africa Leslie Mbula recalled that with Dr Kaunda as president, Zambia was able to stand up to the hostile and repressive regimes in southern Africa until all the countries were liberated.

He said Zambia worked closely with the liberation movements in southern Africa that included ANC in South Africa, ZANU and ZAPU in Zimbabwe, SWAPO in Namibia, FRELIMO in Mozambique and MPLA in Angola.

"This did not go well with the fascist Portuguese government [in Mozambique and Angola], the apartheid regime in South Africa and the Ian Smith regime in Zimbabwe who reacted by bombing Zambia's infrastructure, during which period many Zambians lost their lives. The aim of the bombing was to cow the Zambian government into submission," High Commissioner Mbula recalled. "The bombing campaigns, however, did not achieve their intended objectives, largely due to the resilience of the Zambian government and its people."

High Commissioner Mbula said Dr Kaunda had insisted from the very beginning that there was no way Zambia could consider itself free when its neighbours were still under colonial domination.

According to the statement, late president of ANC in exile Oliver Tambo's daughter Tselani and other children of South Africa's freedom fighters recalled the "good times" they enjoyed in Zambia, particularly in Lusaka's Lilanda township where their parents and former president of Namibia Sam Nujoma lived during their freedom struggles.

Labels: AFRICAN HERITAGE SOCIETY, JACOB ZUMA, KENNETH KAUNDA, PHILIP CHIRWA

posted by MrK @ 3:22 PM