Kenneth Kaunda

Kenneth David Kaunda ( Lubwa , April 28 1924 ) is a Zambian statesman. He is the son of a missionary . Kaunda was educated at the college / normal school and then was a teacher . Soon he found himself in the political waters. In 1953 he became secretary-general of the ANC (African National Congress) for Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia ). He was, however, disagree with the official line of the ANC against the white-dominated Federation of Northern and Southern Rhodesia and Nyasaland. In 1959he left the ANC and founded the Zambian African National Congress (ZANC) on. However ZANC was banned soon after its inception. Kaunda was in prison.

During the captivity of his supporters Kaunda founded the United National Independence Party (United National Independence Party, UNIP) on. When Kaunda was released the UNIP was under his chairmanship a mass movement. In 1961 the Federation of Northern and Southern Rhodesia and Nyasaland fell apart.

In the elections of January 1964, the UNIP of Kaunda became the largest party. On 22 January 1964 Northern Rhodesia gained autonomy with Kaunda as prime minister. In October 1964, Northern Rhodesia was under the name of Zambia an independent republic . Kaunda became the first president and in 1970 and Minister of Defence.

In 1972 merged the UNIP and ANC and UNIP was the only political party in Zambia. Kaunda then presented the so-called Zambian humanism. The Zambian humanismwas based on the African socialism, tradition and Christianity . In 1973 and in 1988 was re-elected as President Kaunda.

Kenneth Kaunda obtained as Zambian president much international acclaim. Especially his policy of non-violence and non-racialiteit enjoyed international authority.

From the end of the seventies took the discontent about the poor economic conditions allow. President Kaunda was here indirectly to blame. In 1991 Parliament introduced a law that allowed the formation of parties besides the UNIP. In the elections of 1992 was Frederick Chiluba 's Movement for Multiparty Democracy (Movement for Multiparty Democracy, MMD) was elected president.

Supporters of Kaunda (including Kaunda's own son) were in 1993 involved in a failed coup against President Frederick Chiluba .

Kaunda was in the presidential election of 1996 excluded because the new constitution allowed only two terms for a president.

See also [ edit ]

 * Zambia
 * African socialism

Publications on Kaunda (selection) [ edit ]

 * Dr. Kenneth K. Kaunda interviewed by Dr. Charles L. Roskam Statehouse, Lusaka, for Zambian Television on Sept. 24, 1970 In:. Chronicle of Africa, 1970, vol. 10, No. 4, pp 289-294
 * A humanist in Africa. Letters of Kenneth D. Kaunda of Zambia president, Colin M. Morris. Kasterlee, Vroente, 1973. No ISBN
 * Kaunda under pressure. The Hague, SNV, 1981. No ISBN
 * Kaunda violence. s-Hertogenbosch, Foundation Joint Mission Publicity, 1984. ISBN 90-6678-010-X