Kaunda inspired his student audience to a standing ovation after his speech on ‘The liberation struggle’s vision for Africa and its current trajectory: the role of young people.’
Kaunda inspired his student audience to a standing ovation after his speech on ‘The liberation struggle’s vision for Africa and its current trajectory: the role of young people.’
“The colonial era is happily behind us, yet we are facing other challenges,” said the 86-year-old Kaunda. “As we are all aware, Africa is today a continent in transition. We need to take bold steps to attain economic independence. For it is unacceptable that our continent … with so much to offer to the world, in terms of resources and talent, should lie behind.”
Kaunda emphasised that African Freedom Day, which commemorates the founding of the Organization of African Unity on 25 May 1963, should remind us of Ghanian President Kwame Nkumah’s words upon its inception: “Our independence is meaningless unless it is linked up with the total liberation of Africa.”
"We were all impressed by that message, which continues to resonate in my mind to this day,” said Kaunda.
“This is a day in which we remember those who sacrificed their life and blood for the sake of succeeding generations, and in which we rededicate ourselves to the service of our fellow human beings,”he said, “A day on which we continue to pledge to do our utmost in order to alleviate poverty, and issues of hunger, ignorance, disease, crime, corruption, and above all, exploitation of man by man.”
In paying homage to the liberation icons of the past, Kaunda argued that, “We should continue to honour them by carrying on with their vision to free Africa of poverty and underdevelopment, bearing in mind that Africa will not be developed by people outside, but by Africans themselves.”
Kaunda was not speaking just about the powerful, “We should not leave everything in the hands of our leaders. We should show them what is right. What is correct. It has been done in the past. It will happen again.”
Kaunda is not without controversy; his presidency was widely criticized for its poor economic performance after he nationalized the mining industry, as well as high levels of corruption. Kaunda’s successor as president, Frederick Chiluba, attempted to have his citizenship revoked and also accused him of orchestrating a failed 1997 coup attempt.
After his talk, Kaunda was asked several provocative questions, including "How do you lose an election in a one party state?" and "Do you know where the bones are?", the latter of which he neglected to answer.
Since his presidency ended, Kaunda has been vocal in the struggle against HIV/Aids, an issue close to his heart after he lost his son to it in 1986. “As we discuss Africa today, let us remember one challenge we are facing today… discrimination has destroyed our fight against HIV/Aids. We must do everything possible to remove stigma and discrimination.” Kaunda ended the speech as he began it – in song:
“Sons of Africa rise and fight. Sons of Africa rise and fight. In the name of greater freedom, we shall fight and conquer Aids.” The students sang with him and cheered wildly as they finished.
