By MARTIN NYIRENDA–
Zambia’s departed late first President Kenneth David Kaunda, who was also known as Super Ken, will be remembered for the vision he had to ensure that young people were empowered with skills to promote moral values in society.
Dr Kaunda dreamed of nurturing young people to grow upright and be responsible future generations of society.
It is against this backdrop that Dr Kaunda introduced the Boys Brigade (BB) in the country in 1964 because of his love to inspire boys.
BB, a Christian interdenominational youth organization, was started in Scotland (Glasgow) by Sir William Alexander Smith on October 4, 1883.
Sir Smith conceived the organization to combine drill and fun activities with Christian values.
Since its inception, the BB has grown in over 60 countries across the globe, attracting a membership of more than 750,000 as of 2018.
Boys Brigade Zambia Executive Secretary Lieutenant Sikazwe Yambala said the organisation joins the rest of the country and indeed the global family in mourning the gallant and great hero late Dr Kaunda.
Lt Yambala said in 1964 after Zambia attained independence, the late founding father visited the United Kingdom (UK) and attended a church service after which the guard of honour was mounted for him by a BB squad.
“He was touched and from then, he had a vision to introduce BB to the Zambians especially because of being a head of State and a Christian.
Thereafter, through the Queen, Dr Kaunda negotiated with the BB UK for the introduction of the BB in Zambia,” Lt Yambala said.
He said after his request, BB UK sent late Reverend Christopher Hancock who was passionate and instrumental in the youth ministry, who also had love and cared for an African child.
The Rev Hancock settled in the Copperbelt in 1965.
According to Lt Yambala, Dr Kaunda worked hard with Rev Hancock to see the birth of the BB in Zambia in 1965.
Later, Rev Hancock trained some leaders, and the United Church of Zambia (UCZ) Mikonfwa Congregation in Luanshya started organising its members to be part of the BB, which was followed by Kabushi Congregation in Ndola.
Lt Yambala said on November 11, 1965, the first BB group in Luanshya, under the Mikonfwa UCZ Congregation, was launched, after which the Anglican and Reformed churches became part of the organisation.
“In 1971, the BB in Zambia become autonomous … This is what the vision of the great man had produced and it has since come true. Dr Kaunda will be remembered as a hero forever!” he said.
Lt Yambala said Dr Kaunda fought a good fight and won.
He said through his influence, Dr Kaunda managed to positively impact the lives of the young ones and ensured they were brought up in a God fearing way so that they remained responsible.
“He will be remembered for his service to the BB as a pioneer, grandfather, teacher, mentor and a friend of the young who always stood his position,” Lt Yambalsa said.
The Ndola North Boys Brigade District is mourning Dr Kaunda as the country’s liberator and as first BB patron.
“We will remember him for the great work that he did for Boys Brigade Zambia. He brought Boys Brigade in Zambia in 1964 and he had a passion for young boys and he was given life membership by Boys Brigade Zambia in 2015,” Ndola District BB chairman Luka Sado said.
The UCZ, where Dr Kaunda was a church member, is also mourning the late first President for being the founder member of BB because of his love to see boys grow into responsible men in Zambia.
The church has described the former President as a pioneer of the BB movement in Zambia, whose immense contributions to the organisation would always be reminisced.
In honour of Dr Kaunda, the Kaniki Training Centre in Ndola has been renamed as Kenneth David Kaunda Training Centre.
Dr Kaunda purposefully chose people to spearhead and oversee the smooth running of the brigade and invariably witnessed the organisation excelling.
9th Ndola BB company captain Jacob Chanda said Dr Kaunda inculcated values in the BB membership to ensure that it continued to grow as well as nurture and equip young boys with life skills based on
Christian values to become disciplined, responsible and God fearing members of the society.
Capt Chanda said this is one of the reasons Government holds the BB in high reverence.
Capt Chanda, who is also the BB Ndola North public relations coordinator, said the organisation has lost its’ pioneer who had a vision for the youths in the country.
He said Dr Kaunda had a vision to promote oneness among the youths, coupled with Christian’s values, to cement the One Zambia One Nation motto.
“We shall strive hard as a movement to uphold what the country’s founding father believed in. The legacy left will linger forever in our minds and the preaching of peace and love which he frequently reminded us shall remain in the boys and officers for years to come,” he said.
Capt Chanda said BB will also remember Dr Kaunda for his patriotic belief which he embraced.
He said Dr Kaunda lived a life to uplift the living standards of people.
“The movement shall implement all what he did especially in the development of the country. He left a united organisation which we pledge shall remain like that,” he said.
Capt Chanda send his condolences to the Kaunda family and the nation.
He said even in his old age, the first President used to provide valuable advice to the BB.
The object of the BB, since its formation, has been “the advancement of Christ’s kingdom among boys and the promotion of habits of obedience, reverence, discipline, self-respect and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness”.
These aims led the BB to become one of the founding organisations of the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS), which is an England-wide organisation working to support and promote the activities of charities and groups with a focus on the welfare of young people.
The BB has remained a member of NCVYS since its creation in 1936.
Former Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Chishimba Kambwili once said the Government hold the BB in high esteem for its contribution to nurturing youths into responsible citizens.
The training of youths by the BB helps to assist young people to avoid social ills such as drugs and beer drinking, promoting their upright status in communities where they come from.
BB national patron Andrew Kamanga said the support rendered by Dr Kaunda in ensuring the success of the organization will forever add value to the development of the church and the nation by providing leaders who continue to serve the country.
“As Boys Brigade, we remain eternally grateful to Dr Kaunda who provided inspiring leadership as founding father of BB in Zambia,” Mr Kamanga said.