The Southern African Center for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) has advised former republican president Kenneth Kaunda to be cautious not to take partisan stances whenever he is making any public statements.
This follows concerns raised by some opposition political parties over Dr. Kaunda’s open praising of President Michael Sata during the commemoration of the country’s 49th Independence anniversary as well as the official launch of the 2014 Golden Jubilee in Kitwe last week.
SACCORD Executive Director Boniface Cheembe says it is important for the first republican president to be all embracing because by being the founding father of the country everybody is expected to run to him whenever they have problems.
Mr. Cheembe says if Dr. Kaunda is seen to be one who has somehow taken up a partisan stance people in the country will be reluctant to run to him and share the problems that they are having.
Mr. Cheembe notes in an effort to avoid any perceptions that the first republic President has taken up partisan affiliation, it is important that Dr. Kaunda always endeavor to be objective when addressing national matters.
Mr. Cheembe was speaking in an interview with Qfm.
And DAily Nation reports that Zambians have expressed shock at the disparaging comments and insults directed at PF ministers and opposition political leaders by first republican president Kenneth Kaunda during the commemoration of 49th independence anniversary in Kitwe on Thursday.
Opposition MMD leader NeversMumba said that it is most unfortunate that the occasion was spoiled by utterances from Dr Kaunda who turned it into a time to disparage the former ruling political party, the MMD, and other opposition political parties.
And Operation Young Vote (OYV) says it is a pity that first republican president Dr Kenneth Kaunda is dividing the ruling PF more by launching attacks on the ministers that championed the “Sata for 2016” campaign.
Mumba said former presidents are supposed to be statesmen and women who must conduct themselves well and with impeccable decorum.
He said Dr. Kaunda was the Father of the Nation, and must therefore desist from thinking that he had friends and enemies in Zambia.
“The sour statements which Dr. Kaunda made have not gone down well with right-thinking Zambians across the country. Everyone is surprised and asking the question, “what is wrong with the old man?” or “has the Old Man joined politics contrary to the Republican Constitution on former heads of state?” he said.
He said Kaunda had an immense responsibility to assist fellow Zambians in keeping the unity of the nation.
Mumba wondered how President Sata had become a great man today when he defected from the United National Independence Party in 1990 to campaign against Kaunda and that vice president Scott was part of anti -Kaunda and anti-UNIP campaigns at that time.
“It is very unfortunate and sad that Dr. Kaunda can stomach hate against the MMD up to this day. Losing democrats never hate victors.The ruling Patriotic Front appears to be abusing the old man by making him its campaign manager following the dwindling of its fortunes in popularity. Let it be known by the great Zambian people that the MMD cannot be shaken by such petty and false criticism from a senile retiree,” Mumba said.
He said his party the MMD took the opportunity to condemn Dr. Kaunda and his insults in the strongest terms possible and with the contempt they deserve.
The opposition leader further urged the PF to find constructive projects and programmes where former heads of state could be assigned instead of being “wild campaigners” or indeed appearing in courts on fabricated offences.
And OYV executive director Guess Nyirenda said it is unacceptable that president Kaunda who should be regarded as a beacon and icon of peace and unity was now fanning division in the ruling party by labeling ministers foolish and stupid.
Nyirenda charged that it was not right for Kaunda to refer to ministers serving the current government as foolish for expressing their democratic right.
“As much as we appreciated what KK did for this country, we also remember how he also mistreated people that expressed contrary views to him. He called Zambians stupid and foolish idiots and for a head of state it is not right to display such attitude towards the people of this country.
“If Kaunda wants to get back to politics, he should do so clearly and be ready to forfeit his benefits. The people using KK to gain political mileage are being unfair to him and it’s unfortunate that the old man is just following without saying no,” said Nyirenda.
He said president Kaunda was expected to give advice to President Sata on how best he could resolve the wrangles in the ruling party other than fanning more divisions.
its pointless advising a senile person. two minutes later he wont even remember he was being advised against something. just ignore the ‘stupid 1diot’
Kaunda fired satas father many years ago balishibana sana
I support kk considering hunger yaku zambia
KK is going down again. The man should deliver speeches which stay in hearts of people so they can repeat such a speech at his funeral.
Like it or not, KK is just happy that for the first time since UNIP we have a president who has taken up from where KK left. MMD ruined everything KK had worked for. The un employment issues we have is all because of closure of big organisations such as Zamb airways, Milling companies, Industries such as Lenco which used to assemble buses, Zambia railways, Zamtel, Zamhort, mansa batteries, Nitrogen Chemicals, Kafue Textiles, Mulungushi textiles, Kapiri glass, Mwinilunga pine apple, the company which was making blankets and bicycles in L/stone and Chipata, etc. You think KK was happy to see these companies he worked for Zambians go down just like that? If MMD and HH were serious with the Privatization programme, how many of these companies were privatized successfully? VIVA KK
MMD Privatization scandal!!!! We need a commission of enquiry.
1. Lenco
2. Zambia airways
3. A very big Milling company in Chingola (now Obsolete)
4. Kapiri Glass
5. UBZ
6. Kafue Textiles
7. Nitrogen Chemicals
8. ZCCM
9. Mansa Batteries
10. Zamhort
11. Zambia railways
12. Mulungushi textile
13. Rop Zambia (making cooking oil)
14. Dunlop
15. ZCBC
16. Kabwe Industrial fabrics(KIFCO)
17. ZAMLOAF (making bread)
18. Zambia airways
19. Pine apple plant in mwinilunga
20. bicycle factory in Chipata
21. Blanket factory in L/stone
22. Mwaiseni stores
If these companies where to exist up to day, do u think we are going to have employment levels at the current rate? Shame upon MMD and HH. You are fools. you killed our mother Zamb because of your selfishness. Mwandi KK uli…
People should remember that MMD bought “development” to Zambia.FTJ even bragged that he brought us Apples and Coca Cola.The MMD bastards sold the country for a song under the guise of liberalized economy.What do we have now.The so called “investors” the MMD brought in don’t even pay their fair share of taxes.
So the old man is right in calling “a spade a spade”.
THE TRUTH REALLY HURTS.
All these companies were lose making and a liability to the government
@ fake zambia lawyers
we wont buy that crap,the person to ask is that fossil you want to stuff down our throats.he doesnt even know what he is doing in state house.thats why you bastard dont even know that ZAMLOAF is a zambeef product and has never been a company.
@fake Zambian lawyer. We condemn the party MMD, but the people who were involved in privatisation are no longer in MMD. Some of them have formed their parties (Sata, Scot, Miyanda, Nawaqwi, Pule, Mulongoti, Sondashi etc) and others have retired (Mwanga, Kavindele etc)
* HH was in the middle of privatisation.
* MMD now is full of new people.
Zambia will only develop if people who make mistakes are held accountable even if they changed parties.
How disheartening to note that while people are saying KK insulted other politicians they still go and insult him. He is an old man and he deserves respects. You don’t call him a “stupid 1 *****.”
SHUT IT!!! you disrespectful FOOOOOLSS!!
KK is the father of this great nation!! how can any father not praise the leader of his children’s country at the time, so you want KK to discredit any sitting government icluding PF in this case, because he is non partisan!! …go back to your books and understand democracy again you Foooools!!
LONG LIVE KK!! ONE ZAMBIA ONE NATION!
That was not good coming from KK. I was waiting to hear a unity speach from him.
I thought this man had lost his memory during the run up to 2011 general elections?
Memories from kk times: ubz, mealie meal coupons, “kumulu lesa, panshi Kaunda”, para military road-blocks through the country, saladi yaku pimisha, queuing 4 basic groceries like soap, sugar, cooking oil, etc. the party and its govt!! Please twapapata, don’t bring back these times ….,
Under KK zambia milk and honey to all citizens.
I agree with ‘^fake zambian lawyers^’ s comments.
The takeover by Chiluba saw a big money going out of the country enriching SA
Stupid ***** indeed.
He who pays the piper calls the tune.KK is just playing the song his paymasters have picked for him.Unfortunately for most of us PF music is inducing us to sleep.
Dr Kaunda has been a free-loader for over 50 years living off suffering Zambians. He has never paid for anything for half a century! What we expect from him is appreciation to the Zambian people and not those id*oitic comments.
Bamudala tabakwata Mano. First he copied word by word the writings of mwalimu Nyerere and called it humanism . He forsake his long time friend kapwepwe who had helped him to ascend to power. So what do you expect from such a man
NAPENA MUDALA. NISEBANA WIKUTE
Dr Kaunda, you messed up this country big time. The MMD you hate rescued the country from total collapse from your economic mismanagement and dictatorial tendencies. I shudder to imagine where this country would have been now had we been f**lish enough to have allowed you to continue. Shut up old man, we still remember how we suffered under your reign.
Thanks jairos. Unfortunately pipo like on #1 can list companies that kept failing the Zambian pipo. They were there yet very unproductive. What did we buy from zcbc later niec? It took us four to five days to travel from Kitwe to mansa, one week getting to kasama and mporokoso and some one wants ti praise the stupid moron that manned the country. Come on guys it was time to move on. Those beating we suffered from Ba para military and unip militia is what u wanted to be the order of the country? The moron never allowed to be challenged? He would rather stand against a frog than a human being and that leaves you what thoughts? Be objective and sensire.I have no good words for that moron. He is only worth six feet down.
I just hope this isn’t part of the schemes of our Comrade, Mr Mmembe Fredah.
Which ever way it isn’t fair to the NOW innocent Old Man.
This stupid ***** needs to be put back in his place. Times have changed he is irrelevant to us. Intact lets put them together with Sata. HH’s message for indepence was more presidential than these two brothers.
@12 tika
Ati HH’s speech was more presidential…. Hahahaha wansekesha! Since when did brother HH give a presidential speech? His is bitterness, envy.
I WAS AT THE KPF CELEBRATIONS AND WAS SHOCKED WHEN KAUNDA WAS PRAISING MUGABE WHO IS THE CAUSE OF SUFFERING OF THE MAJORITY OF ZIMBABWEANS.
I SUPPOSE DICTATORS SUPPORT EACH OTHER COME WHAT MAY.
KK WAS NOT CONCERNED WHEN WE WERE QUEEING FOR ESSENTIALS DURING HIS REIGN.
KK ALSO HAS A PATHOLOGICAL HATRED OF THE MMD WHO KICKED HIM OUT OF POWER AND WILL ALWAYS WORSHIP SATA WHO DEFEATED MMD AND IS BRINGING HIS CHILDREN INTO POWER.
The old man wants to annoy us again? Let him just enjoy his retirement, not the way he is doing now, trotting from function to function, walking like a crooked bow. As for Nevers, this has taught him some lessons. Hardly had the self satisfied smile of dining and wining at State House vanished from his face than he was hit with this outburst from KK. Mudala, the fact that we are tolerating you does not mean that we are happy with you, far from it!
STUPIDITY HAS NOTHING DO WITH AGE. KK HAS NEVER BEEN WISE.
Gold digger and very selfish man!!
If KK wants to come out of retirement and back into active politics, then he must be prepared to justify why he subjected Zambian citizens to such inhumane status by making then chose between him and a frog. Failure to that he must be found with a case to answer under the human rights violations. Enough is enough. We try to forgive and move on but this old retard is spitting right into our faces by rewinding the clock back along with the retarded President Sata.
Granny has done nothing wrong look at his age, he is a lonely man thanks to the president and his children he could have kicked the bucket…… the only ones who are wrong is all you Zambians taking this drama seriously, you should decide what you want to believe and take seriously, the guy is having a party, the government is using political mind games on you and you are getting fired up, leave the man alone sata must be laughing hard behind closed doors, i mean this story is still making headlines? Have you nothing to do…. whats wrong with you? Anyone will pull a prank on you and you will go on for centuries signing a song of self pity, grow up and come above the challenge of politics how old are you, forcus on real political issues in the country not this kindergatten games!
Why are you lecturing, as you would to a 5- year old?
There are a lot of accomplished people here. Please adjust your utterances accordingly.
Accomplished on the blog my foot!
What does that even mean? You seem to have taken on a very supercilious tone on here these days. If you’re not being supercilious you’re flirting in a cringe-inducing way!
Wow Cindy…….
Seems you give alot of people heart attacks, you’re good girl!
Not really. All you’ve given us is an eye roll. Or raised eyebrow at best.
So you are asking me to stop contributing on LT?
Well get used to it, am here to stay!
I really don’t care one way or another whether you contribute to LT. My point was that you were taking an authoritarian tone with other bloggers. Asking them to grow up etc
Girl just leave me the hell alone, i responded to the topic at hand, you are the one who went on about me being supercilious and flirty, really???Am actually laughing so hard in amusement for i never thought i blog along those lines, anyway since you read btwn the lines and concluded thus far to someone you have no clue who they are or what they do, tells me not to pay attention to cyber bullies, you are talking about my tone, check yours before you throw that stone, am done responding to you now, cheers and takecare, life is too short to be petty!
@Cindy. Well said! Now lets wait and see which other kids will throw their toys out of their prams again!
Don’t forget to flounce and slam the door on your way out for maximum effect – just being helpful.
KK initiated the down fall of our country by nationalising the mines with no plan.
The zccm was the back born of the Zambian industry. For most of mine inputs where manufactured locally.
There was a plan my brother. The fact that South Africa and Rhodesia (backed by Great Britain and the US) scuppered it shouldn’t escape your analysis.
Opposition parties can surely not be permitted to confuse voters. In many cases, one finds that opposition parties are power hungry. They criticize with a view to discrediting the ruling party even when the ruling party has done a commendable job. That is why KK’s views appear to against opposition parties. He is a principled, peace loving and non violent leader.
“…is a principled, peace loving and non violent leader” Hmm? Come on super doc!! To whom do link the words “Stup1d 1diots”? Especially when one is upset? Did into history!!
Dear zambians,
i hope you are all awake.have you read todays editorial in the past newspaper?let me go and vomit,ill get back to you
Lol!! What is talking about
Very funny !
…and you wonder why KK’s name is never mentioned at the World level but Mandela’s
KK killed Zambia with his socialist humanism policies and theories which Nyerere his contemporary abandoned. He unilaterally put Zambia on centre stage in the liberation struggle without concern of economical ramifications that our Nation experienced as a result.
In his quest to become a freedom ‘Guru’, he failed to create MOUs with liberation movements, that once they got their Independence, they would assist Zambia rebuild her economy preferentially.
Now they are Independent and puffed up and their only hero is KK their redeemer and not poor Zambians whose villages, bridges and schools got bombed with a lot of them maimed and losing lives. Thank you KK(thank u very much!)
In a way you are right but we had to liberate our brothers and sisters. In those days it was not to be known they would be free within the 20th century. We expected them to be freed late in the 21st century so perhaps thats why KK may have deferred these MOUs. Lets just focus on redeveloping our great nation.
I would have expected KK to give a balanced speech analytical of the 49 years of Zambia.
He should have embraced our suceesses and failures alike , highlighted our major strentgh as a Nation- Unity and Peace in diversity, encouraged the youth to strive for leadership positions by stating that their time has finally come.
Anyway , this is too much to expect from Kaunda, always he gets it all wrong the first time. sometimes i wonder whether K K is a Blessing or Curse to Zambia.
Does Kaunda know about the cost of anything in Zambia? was he the only one who fought for independence? Lay low mudala,especially that you are eating taxpayer’s money!
U demons make me lough.This inludes Saccord and OYV.lf kk were speaking with u it would be 0 joy.ln 2006 the opo then excluding pf formed what was called in short Uda. Kk downgraded pf nd Sata then and u rejoiced. U never condemned kk.lt is pf time.
Sorry to divert – are there any bloggers based in Belgium? Or members of a Belgium-Zambian Association? Will be in Brussels tomorrow and wondered whether I could meet any members (I am based in the UK)
Now that he wants us to remember the past……..who barred us from entering a fresh produce market every morning UNLESS you had a UNIP party card??? Who made us & our poor parents queue for Mealie Meal, sugar, cooking oil, margarine, (all the essentials) from 03:00 a.m till late, and return home with nothing???? Who summoned the UNIP Youth league, Zambia Army and Para-Military police to panel beat innocent people whenever they rioted for food and for freedom from his dictatorship ??????? Those of us, who are still alive, still remember all these sufferings like it was yesterday !!! Without the AmaSeneSene (Senegalese immigrants), Zambians would not have even known that we have got emeralds and diamonds in our country !!! Kaunda’s KaGem were already busy syphoning/plundering !!!
this man is no longer useful to our politics..
Dr Kaunda wanted to be wamuyaya and wanted his children to succeed him. Now that Sata has put 3 of his Children on government pay roll. Its like that objective is being met.
KK ruled with love, ONLY sick minded people could not see what was good for the country during rules. Industries protected by gvt were sold thereafter. what is Zambia benefiting out of those sells.. relaying on taxes without owning parastual companies is weakening the economy.. councils fail to own transport network within their operational areas.
Your reporting imwe ba Lusaka Times is going down. Cant you quote the so called insults by KK. All what we are reading are complaints from those who haven’t been praised for selling the country when they were in power. Bravo KK
people who praising KK am sure were born in the 1990s, the old fellows know how this man brought terror and misery to the majority zamnbians. of course he started on a good note but the problem he overstayed in office by the 1980s most of those companies people are are mentioning were almost going under…of course we love the big man for his part but let him not trade on partisan;he should be seen above such petiness
I totally concur with you. Young people are not aware how a despot dictator kk was during his 27 misrule of zambian. He ruled with an iron hand.
We had no freedom, people used to disappear, death of his persived enemies was the order of the day. Kk run down the economy.
If it was RB doing that pf could threaten him with withdrawing his benefits.
But didn’t he say that HE Mr MC Sata was not presidential material. He insulted MMD but Mr Sata was also a MMD pioneer and executive member until Chiluba ditched him for the late Mwanawasa. No wonder politics is compared to prostitution
I we above, were u even forced 2 b a member of unip 1 day? We were but we now understand how neccessary were some of kk’s policies . Even the peace u enjoy 2day u wouldn’t b enjoying it.LT,y can’t u let us read kk’s statement?Hopeless pipo.
English please
Kk said,’lwe wemuwelewele’.When translated it means hopeless character.He was right.Whoever has written this article is a hopeless character.kk never insulted anyone. lf praising Sata 4 de gud he thinks he has done then b insulted. Congrates Sata!
KK is wise, all you fools are going die, KK will be there to advise the young. That is why the Lord has kept him, to be a guide to the nation. It is also hurting me, are people not seing the development undertakings in the land by PF. Atase!
Uli cisushi!
KK is in a very unique position and to bring himself to the level of SATA or political party and PF in particular is sad to say the least. KK presided over an economy envied by many. But the 27 year rule coupled with outdated economic ideologies brought the country to its knees which basically led to the hounding out of KK from office (78%) loss. The country’s coffers were empty. Today we respect KK for being the first president of Zambia. Many diaspora Zambians and those within who experienced the Kaunda economic- meltdown will have respect only as our Zambian first head of state. Micheal Sata himself is on record for having rejected punji as MP on account that the father had failed and therefore he(SATA) could not share platform with the son whose father had failed to rule.
@ fake Zambian Lawyers ” if you have a rotten leg and the doctor recommends that you should have your leg amputed to save your life would you blame the doctor?” in a nutshell that is what you are doing- strange thinking indeed. Not sure how old you were when the economy of Zambia nearly ground to a halt? But suffice to say that most of those companies you mentioned non of them were operational they were just shells. UBZ was at the graveyard- buses were just scrap metals. Taxpayers were being taxed to pump water out of flooded copper mines… We are were we are now because someone stopped the rot and now someone comes in and increases his salalry three times in two years and you say viva! my word?
Amazing how all blame is on KK for the economic downfall in the late 80s. Bloggers here write as though KK was supposed to bring economic liberation to the country regardless of the parastatal directors and manager mismanaging the firms. The economy went down not because of the leader but because the population was used to the socialist life of receiving rather than being productive.
KK introduced Tip Top, Kwench, and was working to bring local companies up to their feet. But the pulling out of Coca Cola and Unilever companies led the people to miss soft drinks. We rioted for sugar and mealie meal instead of finding ways to produce and be self-sustaining.
I am also saddened by Nevers Mumba’s description of KK as “a senile retiree.” Is this not a disparaging remark as well? Or maybe a remark is disparaging only when it damns the opposition party? Or when it is uttered by an old man?
Its amazing at the arte the PF is dispalying KK at public functions. KK should not be blamed for those negative comments he made of PF Ministers in Kitwe during Independence celebrations but those who gave him the plartform. KK is old very old at 89yrs and as such he can make all sorts of uncordinated comments without realising that he is making mistakes.Let the POERS be find something else for KK to do including RB as we prepare for our country’s Jubilee celebration next year.
Its amazing at the rate the PF is dispalying KK at public functions. KK should not be blamed for those negative comments he made of PF Ministers in Kitwe during Independence celebrations but those who gave him the plartform. KK is old very old at 89yrs and as such he can make all sorts of uncordinated comments without realising that he is making mistakes.Let the POERS be find something else for KK to do including RB as we prepare for our country’s Jubilee celebration next year.
KK is a thankless senile old man, forgive him
What ever all of you disgruntled Idioootss!! may say, one thing for sure and which will never be erased in history of our nation is the fact that it is ONE ZAMBIA ONE NATION!! LONG LIVE KK!
Yes Sammy again with insulting comment,cant you do better?
Of course Zambians in Brussels. Are you male or female? Married or single? Available or not available?
Let’s forgive the old man. He is human and subject to mistakes. He was just overtaken by the cake he was given during cerebrations.
the same sata organised youths to throw oranges on kaunda. economically, the country was on its knees and we only saw tangible recoveries under mwanawasa and RB and since then we don’t know where we are.