By Abba Gwale
Former president of Zambia, Kenneth Kaunda, has died after being admitted to hospital with pneumonia.
He was being treated for pneumonia in a military hospital in the country’s capital, Lusaka, according to his aides.
Kaunda was one of the last surviving figures from Africa’s post-Second World War anti-colonial movement.
Earlier this week, Zambia’s current President Edgar Lungu and several other African leaders, had asked people to pray for Mr Kaunda.
In his tribute, former captain of Zambian national football team, Kalusha Bwalya, said Kaunda had made “an immense impact of all Zambians, Africans and World at large.
Also, Zambia’s opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema wrote on Facebook that the late Kaunda as he was affectionately known will be sorely missed by all Zambians and the rest of the people on the African continent.
Kaunda ruled Zambia from 1964, when the southern African nation won its independence from Britain, until 1991.
After retiring, he was involved in various charitable organisations. One of his notable contributions was his zeal in the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS.
He was among Africa’s few surviving liberation heroes.
