Photo; Former President Goodluck Jonathan delivering Late President Kaunda’s 2nd Memorial Lecture
The Second Dr Kenneth Kaunda International Memorial Public Lecture was held at the University of South Africa in Pretoria on Saturday, 17 June 2023, in partnership with The Kenneth Kaunda Children of Africa Foundation, The
Princess of Africa Foundation, and The Ubuntu Africa.
The Memorial Lecture was hosted in honour of the legacy of the founding father and the first President of Independent Zambia, Dr Kenneth Kaunda.
The lecture was delivered by the former President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who acknowledged
Dr Kenneth Kaunda’s legacy and his contribution to freeing Africa from colonialism.
The Memorial Lecture was attended by the representatives of the Diplomatic Corps their Excellencies Ambassadors and High Commissioners accredited to the Republic of South Africa from the continent, Ambassador of the Central African Republic, Acting High Commissioner of Zambia, High
Commissioner of Kenya, High Commissioner of Uganda, Ambassador of Zimbabwe, Ambassador of Chad, Ambassador of Somalia. Ambassador of Gambia, Ambassdor of Egypt, Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria, Consul General of Nigeria, High Commissioner of South Africa to Zambia, Kaweche
Kaunda, former President Kaunda’s son, academia, representatives from the youth associations, and
representative from the different political parties.
KK was well known for his fight against HIV AIDS. Doctor Kaunda directed his life towards the improvement of human relations in Africa and in
humanity. After leaving State House in November 1991, Dr. Kaunda committed himself in various ways to work for humanity and the world.
In the year 2000, he established the Kenneth Commander Children of Africa Foundation with the focus of fighting HIV, AIDS and investing in the
impact. The foundation started educational programs for the very needy and supported vulnerable parents and guardians in communities.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Sunday Musonda, Vice-President and CEO of the
Kenneth Kaunda Children of Africa Foundation said the Great African icon was a selfless leader who not only liberated his country, Zambia,
but also played a major role in the liberation of Africa and Southern African countries. “We can not emphasise enough KK’s role in the dismantling of apartheid in South Africa.
Africa can not thank God enough for the gift of this great man,” We need to heed the call for us to create the Africa that our people deserve. It’s time for us to come together and be serious with working on our continent.
Mr. Musonda briefed the audience on the various programs and activities
of the foundation. KK contributed a lot in various fields. Locally and
internationally, the United Nations met in cooperation of the Commission for HIV AIDS and Governance in Africa.
In May 2018, Islam contributed to the fight against the HIV AIDS, and the United Nations awarded KK the UN AIDS Leadership Award.
Even before KK passed on in June 2021, the foundation was already being reorganized.
We have been trying to explore ways of strengthening ourselves to be efficient and effective in that time when there is quite some donor
fatigue in the world.
We are exploring how we can use our experience gained in the fight against HIV AIDS to deal with new challenges that
include the coronavirus pandemic. In our reorganization, we will
strengthen existing links and establish flesh partnerships with other organizations and programs. Another effort we are supporting is to do
with sustainable environment and climate action. KK was very passionate about nature and the sustainable environment. He supported nature
sanctuaries. Initiated and supported many projects that are still helpful today. The trees planted over the decades in many places are living today.
We are continuing with tree planting. We will work with
others on environmentally sustainable livelihoods.
We will act for the limiting of plastic damaging. We will work and cooperate with others on climate resilience.
And we will continue to provide lessons for many in the world. This includes case concern for settling conflicts. This was active when KK was president and even after leaving office.
Various experiences can
help provide useful lessons even in current situations.
Another task the foundatio is doing is to still put together resources to print the
memory, the memoirs, and to have them launched in 2024 to coincide with the
centenary of KK’s birth.
The Kenneth Kaunda Children of Africa Foundation provides food, medical
care, schooling for AIDS, orphans.
Even at a time when KK was suffering, he showed his dedication to serving others and to use that moment to
set up this powerful foundation, which continues to do great work, assisting and helping the most vulnerable among us, particularly children.
UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and Founder of The Princess of Africa Foundation, Ms Yvonne Chaka Chaka is well known for her Love of the continent of Africa and her work in helping particularly the most
vulnerable on our continent, protecting children, championing education,
health and the rights of women.
Ms. Yvonne Chaka Chaka tirelessly campaigns for medications and supports
the efforts to help end malaria, a preventable and curable disease that’s killing more than 3000 people every single day.
Inspired by these statistics, she created her own charity, The Princess of Africa Foundation, which focuses on raising awareness and taking initiative to eradicate this disease.
Apart from entertaining us and bringing us joy on the stage. We really have been celebrating her work. Her tireless efforts are not an underestimation to say that she’s been saving thousands of lives with the work that she’s been doing.
In her remarks, Yvonne Chaka Chaka said the late President Kaunda was a good man. “President Kaunda was the only President that I called Dad beside Oliver Tambo.
KK loved this continent, and we all know that. And today, I’m delighted that you, yourselves as Africans, are here to commemorate this day.
What a significant day this is. On the 16th of June,
was the uprising of Soweto, on the 17th of June, was the day when God remembered our Father, and the 18th of June is President Thabo Mbeki’s
Birthday.
Now I want to say. This man fought so hard. For this continent to have its freedom. With that said, let us not disappoint our forefathers, let
us not disappoint those who wanted to see Africa being home for all of
us. Africa is for all those who live in it. But there’s a lot that is
happening, and it’s us people in this room who have to show Ubuntu to one
another, to start trading amongst each other, to start learning from one
another. I want you to call on other presidents. We are tired of seeing
young people crossing the seas and dying. Let us make everything in
Africa. Africa has got all the minerals that have to be benefiting.
Everybody, the brain drain that is happening, it shouldn’t be let’s when the people from the West come to Africa, they should come in our own terms, not us listening to them guys. If we don’t do that, we will be
judged by the next generation. I believe in black power, I believe in this continent, and I’m not sure if you do care about the June 16 representatives here because these are the young people who tackle the
bull by the horn and fought because they did not want a young black
person to be taught in a language that they did not understand. Or a
language of an oppressor. So we can’t be saying Africa is free when our children are crossing the seas to go and look for greener pastures. Now
it is people like you and me here who have to pave the way. Let us do it now. Let us do it for a better Africa said Yvonne Chaka Chaka.
In delivering the lecture, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, acknowledged Dr
Kenneth Kaunda’s legacy and his contribution to freeing Africa from colonialism.
In his speech, the former Nigeria president said that he currently
there were major conflicts and undemocratic governments in a number of
African states. These states include Sudan, Ethiopia, Libya, Chad, Mali,
Guinea and Burkina Faso, as well as tensions and attempted coup d’etat
in several others. “As Africans, we must ask ourselves what is the cause
of all these crises,”
Mr Jonathan said. “Nation-building is often described as a marathon, a
process that requires the active participation of every citizen to
contribute to the fulfillment of the shared dream of the community.”
He added, “This assertion is true in the light of our lived reality as Africans as a continent that is confronted with many developmental
issues. Citizens need peace, justice, and security. They want to be shielded from hunger, poverty, and deprivation.
Citizens want accountable leadership, a system of government that guarantees their basic rights.”According to Mr Jonathan, leadership has become a major source of conflicts and wars in most African countries.
The leadership recruitment process and our inability to effectively manage political
transitions have resulted in avoidable conflicts. Elections in some countries have become a source of instability, largely reflecting the kind of leaders we have in authority,” explained the ex-president.
He called on “my fellow brothers and sisters” in Africa “to seek to redefine leadership and governance on the continent.” Mr Jonathan added, “We need a leadership process that guarantees the
fundamental freedoms and rights of the citizens and delivers a good life
to them. We need to build and protect our political systems to serve the
best interest of our people. We must learn how to manage our diversity and build an inclusive society.”
Vice President. Doctor Nevis, Mumbai talked about what KK represented, particularly when it came to fighting for others, often at great cost.