The White House has declassified a meeting that then-President Kenneth David Kaunda held with late US President George H.W Bush on June7th 1989.
During the meeting, Dr Kaunda called for the release of Nelson Mandela, the unbanning of the African National Congress(ANC), PAC and other black organisations, stop internal repression and begin political dialogue with the group.
He also called for the lifting of State of Emergency by apartheid South Africa.
He expressed concern that entities were calling for the lifting of sanctions against South Africa, but said the sanctions were important to apply pressure on the apartheid government.
He also called for the implementation of the Namibian Accords signed in December 1988 in New York that would see Namibia become independent.
He also cautioned the USA for sending military weapons to Jonas Savimbi and his UNITA rebels through Zaire against the government of President Dos Santos in Angola.
He said President Dos Santos had expressed willingness to hold talks with the rebel group.
President Kenneth Kaunda’s delegation included; Lazarus Kapambwe (Charge de Affairs in Washington), Milimo Punabantu (Political Advisor) and Dr. Henry Meebelo (UNIP Central Committee Member).
Wow! Interesting read. Kudos to KK for always being an advocate for peace.
Excellent history there. As a person who is deeply passionate about history, I really appreciate this momentous revelation. Kk despite his shortfalls, was a great leader. Our current president is has gotten alot of positive attributes from this wise father. We still engage him on issues and his advice is very cardinal to us. We thank you tata kaunda. One day I know I will be celebrated just like you, that is my aim anyway. Kz
He was a real STATESMAN,a real PATRIOT a true PANAFRICANIST and indeed a practical HUMANIST! After him we have seen different types of leaders preside over our nation though SOME can best be described as “Left overs of leadership” -a complete opposite of the good virtues KK exhibited for upcoming generations to emulate! He is human and made his mistakes but overall he was and is a TRUE LEADER!!
Kz … sit down wechipuba iwe…..
the drunken master can never be compared to this noble man KK. A selfless man who fought for a common man accross Africa. not imwe ba kandile mwe fipuba mwe.
shut your azz up you imposter!
Just look at KK’s advisers on that list and their background…today when you look at people around Lazy Lungu you would think he is with his friends at a Tavern in Chawama!!
True statesman and patriot.
This explains why George W Bush had a soft approach on KK despite his close ties to Saddam Hussein.Bush Senior must have advised his son that KK had genuine intentions. Besides George and Laura Bush support the Cancer unit at the Livingstone.
This is in contrast to current African leaders who have literary sold their nations to China for that “brown envelope”.
Zambia has a debt of over $10 billion to China.In return they want to control our resources.
KK would not have allowed this
Kaizer uluchipuba
I liked him for discipline, he never tolerated nonsense. He was a firm leader and selfless corrupt free man. In Kaunda’s time, you misbehave you’re fired! I miss that type of leadership and only Levy Mwanawasa could fit in his shoes.
That calibre of Dr Kaunda is the political deficit Zambia is missing. He meticulously tutored himself to a statesman unparalleled.
Zambia can ill afford another rookie for office of President in 2021 or indeed a repeat of the same old same old failed leadership.
When a leader appointments fools into his government , his fated is predetermined and sealed. Kaunda’s leadership had elevated the standards of leadership in the country and indeed in the region. Discipline was the cornerstone of his leadership. His government didn’t condone or encourage corruption. The rotten narrative of the current leadership has destroyed and damaged the international standing of our country among the dignified nations of the world.
30 years from now it will be like President ECL was accompanied by Kaiser Zulu, Freedom Sikazwe and Bowman Lusambo. After the meeting they finished all the beer in the bars of Washington. This is how PF has lowered the barometer of leadership. We now people like Freedom who can’t tell the difference between 2 and Z, and Kaiser who brandishes guns in bars and bena Spax and Josephine Mumbi Phiri very close to the Presidency. Zambia is a big laughing-stock
Am surprised all that commentators got from the declassified documents was contrasting president Lungu and president Kaunda. Not the fact that by God’s gift a weaker more logical republican was in office. Unlike Reagan before Bush senior who supported the apartheid South African government, and hated black Americans.
PF and Lungu has really reduced the office the president to their chawama market mentality. Mo wonder we degrading each day because we have the president surrounded by incompetent thugs who simply do not know what is happening or should be doing to move the country forward. Zambians should by now wake up and realise that they are being trapped in dungeons of poverty by the current thugs masquerading as leaders!
For how long has Lazarous Kapambwe been in Washingtone? Ni wamunkwala? All the political parties that have passed mu Zambia, he is still there, awe kanshi ninshimbi ba Kapambwe!!
KK was a real man. A true leader. A man of substance.
They do not make them like KK anymore.
The leaders of today are like “made in China” versions. Very low quality. Useless and selfish. Common thieves that even steal from widows.
Very good piece of history, glad to see and read what we have always known, which is that KK was indeed a statesman representing the southern region very well and competently. Ba KZ, if it is true that our able and humble leader indeed visits Dr Kaunda to learn from him, then I am afraid he should then be a very poor student. He can’t compare to KK and he has learnt nothing. KK’s first principle is selflessness which is obviously missing in our current leadership and even all the others after him.
Lazarus Kapambwe the ambassador now was there, I respect that man.
Our great leaders played important roles in ensuring peace in the world (Yes, in the world). And one would wonder the argument that I read last year over Dr Kaunda’s qualification for a Nobel Peace Prize, that his activities were more ‘regional’ than they were at world stage hence he did not convincingly qualify for the award. Surely the former President’s activities were peace-building at world stage and should warrant his nomination for a Peace Prize.
@Independent, Good observations there. That was George Bush SNR in the Oval Office at the time.
Impressive team surrounding KK there.
Dont know about now. Does Cabinet wield true power or they are just figure heads?
naimwe great leader, kwisa? this Malawaian was a dictator.
He should have raised the issue of lifting Zambia’s own sanctions as there were street protest amid shortages in Lusaka at that time. Flying all the way just for ANC, hard to understand.
This is yet another example of the excessive sacrifices Zambia took to liberate this region. KK globe trotted meeting leaders of super powers at Zambia’s expense but representing the interest of liberation movements.
There was an interesting moment when after a 2hrs long meeting between President Reagan and KK, Reagan asked KK to tell him a little about Zambia and the country’s trade needs. KK had not mentioned his country in the entire meeting !!!
www dot cia dot gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP89M00699R002201800003- dot pdf
Follow the link to understand why/how KK was made a political stooge by CIA.
I would love to see how SDB and KGB made him their man.
The only intelligent and genuine president Zambia ever had.
Atleast he got what he wanted for Africa but never for Zambia because I can’t detouch successor MMD’s/h²’s messing up of our mines from total bonkersness.
Neither MMD nor UPNDEAD’s leader had the faintest heart for this great land.
God please forgive these transgressors but please never ever make them rule over us again for they haven’t got what it takes to rule ever.
This pf corrupt thugs deserve firing squard if convicted after 2021.
No mercy for merciless morons.
Lungu would just go to get bribed ,
like how he filled a plane with his cohorts and went to China to sign the $278 million digital migration deal, the most expensive in Africa….
“Participants: The president Jim A. Baker, III, secretary of state Brent Scowcroft, assistance to the president for national security and affairs Herman J. Cohen, Assistant secretary of State for African fair Jeffrey A. Davidow, U.S. Ambassador to Zambia David Passage, NSC (Notetaker)
President Kenneth D. Kaunda
Lazarous Kapambwe, Zambia Charge d’Affaires in Washington milimo punabantu, Political adviser to President Kaunda
Dr. Henry meebelo, UNIP Party central committee member
DATE, TIME, June 7, 1989, 10:00 – 10:45 am EDT
AND PLACE The Oval Office”
look at the people on president Bush side and on President Kenneth Kaunda side who’s been more transparent?
UNIP was ANC of South Africa was Presented not Zambia
PF time-out
Read this book “Visions of Freedom: Havana, Washington, Pretoria, and the Struggle for Southern Africa, 1976-1991 (The New Cold War History)”. It talks about what happened during the final fifteen years of the Cold War and what southern Africa underwent thru. Professor Piero Gleijeses.
Madilu System
You are 112% correct about discipline during Kaunda era. There was no lawlessness and corruption which the current govt has embraced. How can in all honest the President have KZ as his advisor?? This tells you volumes about the President’s calibre. KZ +ECL= CL = D where C is corruption and L lawlessness and D is Disaster.
I wonder if this is the meeting they told him to step down and return to multiparty democracy.
And how many other people in the delegation? Three! Yet Amwapealing, wife of Humble Supreme Leader took the whole village of cadres to receive the ancient fire Engines from the USA. Insoni ebuntu
KZ,STOP HALLUCINATING. WHICH,TYPE OF WEED HAVE U SMOKED AND FROM WHERE? THE ONLY HISTORY PF WILL WRITE IN THIS COUNTRY IS THAT IT IS A PARTY OF CROOKS WHO DESTROYED ZAMBIA. TOPPING THE LIST, ECL,KZ,LUSAMBO,CHITALU CHILUFYA, MUZIMAI AMANTUNDA PA BED SILIYA,MUMBI PHIRI, DAVIES MWILA, KK WILL ALWAYS BE A GREAT AFRICAN HERO SIGNIFICANTLY HERE IN ZAMBIA 3 PRSIDENTS HAVE WORKED FOR ZAMBIA-1. KK,2. FTJ DESPITE HIS FLAWS BUT HE DID ALOT. 75% CHILUBA WORKED. 3. MWANAWASA-HE WAS NOT A DARLING TO ANYONE AND AT FIRST HE WAS NOT A FAVOURITE FOR ANYONE BUT HE REALLY WORKED. MWANAWASA CLOSED THE DOOR FOR THE GREAT LEADERS ZAMBIA EVER HAD. THE REST NIMA RUBBISH YABANTU. RB,SATA AND THIS ONE ECL KUWAYAWAYA FWE.
It’s great to appreciate the many positives and learn from them. In advocating for peace in the region he really worked very hard and praiseworthy.
In building Zambia and teach Zambians hard work and development minded twabwelelepofye iminwenkutwa. A worker then was never appreciated and many Zambians who retired those days went to their home villages like destitute. That part of history is important too plus the freedoms that many enjoy now were never there.
Weldone KK for the good things you did for Africa and Zambia. I forgive you for preaching communism that has left Zambian lazy crying babies without innovation. But we are slowly learning to stand and build without depending entirely on the state.
The Father of The Nation.
He took us from Egypt into Isreal. Then we had Sodom & Gomorrah in FTJ Chiluba years.
God Bless Zambia!!!
I had to say this, I’m surprised my uncle Mr Kapambwe was there. He is an eloquent and intelligent man.
Indeed kk was a good person and a leader not leadership off nowadays