KAUNDA

By CHARITY  MOONGA-
THE United Church of Zambia (UCZ) Boys Brigade yesterday honoured first republican President Kenneth Kaunda for being the founder member of the movement and his love for the boy child in Zambia.
At an honouring service held for Dr Kaunda in Lusaka yesterday, the church described the former President as a pioneer of the Boys Brigade movement in Zambia whose immense contributions to the movement would always be remembered.
The Boys Brigade honoured Dr Kaunda as a life member of the organisation and renamed Kaniki Training Centre in Ndola as Kenneth David Kaunda Training Centre.
Boys Brigade Zambia national chairperson, Masauso Mwanza said it was Dr Kaunda’s strategic appointment of people to spearhead and oversee the smooth running of the Brigade that had seen the organisation excel in the past years and assisted it to continue growing.
He reaffirmed the organisation’s determination to nurture and equip young boys with life skills based on Christian values to become disciplined, responsible and God fearing members of the society.
Youth and Sports Minister, Chishimba Kambwili said Government held the Boys Brigade in high esteem for its contribution to nurturing youths into responsible citizens.
In a speech read for him by, Youth and Sport director, Bornface Nalishuwa, Mr Kambwili said the training of youths by the Boys Brigade would assist keep them away from bad vices such as drugs and beer drinking.
He encouraged the movement to take advantage of the Youth Empowerment Fund to help develop the youths and the organisation.
And Dr Kaunda thanked the UCZ and the Boys Brigade for the honour describing it as an amazing spirit.
Dr Kaunda reiterated his determination to continue supporting the Boys Brigade.
“I stand ready to support the Brigade, God bless you in everything you do,” he said.
Incoming Boys Brigade national patron, Andrew Kamanga said the movement had contributed 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  Boys Brigade in Zambia,” Mr Kamanga said.
The former President was the first national patron for the Boys Brigade in Zambia in 1965.
Dr Kaunda later, during the service, unveiled a plaque for the new Kenneth David Kaunda Training Centre.