• DR Kaunda being fed a piece of cake by his grand child Tiyezye.

By REBECCA  MUSHOTA –
FIRST Republican President Kenneth Kaunda yesterday celebrated his 91st birthday from his home in Lusaka with family and the Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Yang Youming.
Meanwhile, the President of China Xi Jinping has described Dr Kaunda as a pillar of the Zambia-China friendship that has spun more than 50 years.
Dr Kaunda’s family presented him with a cake which he shared with children, in-laws, grand children, great grandchildren and journalists.
“I am very grateful and humbled. Thank you, thank you very much,” he said.
Dr Kaunda’s son, Kaweche, said the family was grateful to God for giving them the former president who had led an exemplary life.
Mr Kaunda (Kaweche) said being family members of Dr Kaunda was a challenge because it was not easy to follow in the footsteps of such a great man.
He said they could only hope that God willing, they could also live exemplary lives and as long as the former head of State has lived.
Earlier, Mr Yang, who presented Dr Kaunda with a gift which was a recording of a party the Chinese Embassy in Zambia had two weeks ago in his honour, said he hoped that his birthday reminded him of the good memories he had of China.
President Xi also said Zambia’s founding father spearheaded the China-Zambia friendship that was still ongoing more than 50 years later.
He said Dr Kaunda promoted the friendship for the benefit of people.
Mr Xi said he and the Chinese people had utmost respect for Dr Kaunda and they were wishing him a heartfelt birthday and good health.
This was in a letter read by chief of political section at the Chinese Embassy Wan Nan Lin.