By NAKUBIANA MUMBUNA –
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has called for the completion of first Republican president Kenneth Kunda’s memoirs for the benefit of Zambians.
The President called on those handling the documents to ensure that the task was completed on time.
President Lungu said that completion of the project would give Zambians an opportunity to gain insight into the country’s history.
Mr Lungu said this during the re-launch of Zambia Shall be Free, a book that was written by Dr Kaunda at the age of 38 when Zambia, then Northern Rhodesia, was a British colony.
“The place KK occupies in our history is so special that it needs to be properly recorded,” President Lungu said.
Mr Lungu also paid tribute to Dr Kaunda for his selfless sacrifices during the liberation struggle for independence.
President Lungu described Dr Kaunda as an ordinary person who achieved extraordinary things.
“KK we are proud of you and your fellow compatriots who sacrificed their lives to give birth to Zambia,” President Lungu said.
“Your group, aptly described as a ‘generation of struggle’, is a generation we shall forever be proud of.”
President Lungu further called on Zambians to take the initiative and document the country’s rich history.
The President said despite the country’s rich history, its documentation was done by foreigners, a situation which he said was saddening.
The Head of State said documenting a country’s history was cardinal because a country without records of its history was a lost society.
“But more dangerous are the dangers that society faces in terms of being misled by callous individuals who promote sectional interests rather than societal interests,” the President said.
He called on the educational authorities to include writings and works of freedom fighters in the school curricula, as doing so would help Zambians learn about their history.
KAGEM Mining Board chairperson William Nyirenda also called for the publication of Dr Kaunda’s memoirs.
Mr Nyirenda said this would enable Zambians gain an insight into the historical events such as the advent of the Matero Economic Reforms and the Choma Declaration.
He said the memoirs would also enable Zambians have an insight into the challenges Dr Kaunda faced as president of Zambia.
And Dr Kaunda said the re-print of his book reminded him of what freedom fighters went through during the liberation struggle.
“Looking back over my life reminds me of those persons and events I have encountered in my life,” Dr Kaunda said. “The contributions are important parts of my life and experiences.”
He further thanked KEGEM Mine for its involvement in the reprinting his book.
The former president was pleased that the One Zambia One Nation motto had been reintroduced in the news bulletins as this emphasised unity.
Among those that attended the book re-launch were veteran politicians Grey Zulu, Sikota Wina, Mama Chibesa Kankasa and Simon Zukas.
Several Cabinet and deputy ministers, members of the diplomatic corps, members of the PF central Committee and senior Government officials were also in attendance.