Botswana has declared a seven-day mourning period following the death of Zambia’s founding President Kenneth Kaunda. President Mokgweetsi Masisi has also decreed that all flags must fly at half-mast during the mourning period.
Dr Kaunda who died yesterday aged 97 was the first Head of State to visit Botswana shortly after its independence in 1966.
His four-day State visit to Botswana, from May 21st, to May 24th, 1968, ushered in a period of unparalleled excellent bilateral relations between Botswana and Zambia, after Zambia attained its own independence from British colonial rule which saw Dr Kaunda assuming the first presidency of the country in 1964.
It was during Dr Kaunda’s presidency that bilateral relations between Botswana and Zambia blossomed over the decades, and so did the personal relations between him and the founding President of Botswana Sir Seretse Khama.
Scores of young Batswana professionals were trained in Zambia during the nascent stages of Botswana’s independence.
Zambian expatriate personnel were also among the first to help Botswana form its institutional framework from scratch.
The relations strengthened even further after the death of Sir Seretse Khama in 1980, when Sir Seretse’s long-term friend and Vice President Sir KeTUMILE MASIRE became President of Botswana.
In his message of heartfelt condolences, President Masisi has expressed profound sorrow, and commiserates with the mourning nation of the Republic of Zambia.
Dr Masisi has described Dr Kaunda as an iconic statesman of the highest credentials and selfless dedication to the interests of his own country as well as the wellbeing of neighbours and humankind at large.
Dr Masisi says Dr Kaunda was Botswana’s best friend during the worst of times when the country was battling to find itself during the trying times of early independence when it needed friends the most.
President Masisi said the charismatic former President of Zambia is a grave loss to his compatriots and to all peace-loving people, in Botswana and elsewhere.
This is according to a statement issued to ZNBC News by Botswana’s Permanent Secretary Government Communications, Andrew Sesinyi.
Meanwhile ka chakolwa nakolwa ku kaoma.
What type of a leader without sense humor?
He must come back to Lusaka and guide the nation instead of spreading covid-19.
PF must go!
Kaunda died in Zambia while Llungu is out of the country receiving medical check up. Show us photos of him in Western Province!?? All you’re showing is people.
@1 Madilu System
You should be ashamed of yourself….KK had non of your preferred UPND characteristics…look at his first Cabinet….stop the hate…..and being tribal
Be reasonable and judge the time when to make certain comments. Seems you were not brought up well. Better spread your idiocy somewhere else.
Thank you our brother and sisters in Botswana. We mourn with you. There is no leader I know in history whose death made other countries declare weeks of mourning at this scale. Our founding father was a great man who was close to our president ECL and emparted his knowledge to him. RIP kk
Anonymous don’t mind these f00Iish upnd diasporans. They are evil and to them they celebrate death because they believe the blood of innocent people will give power to their freemason leader hh.
Anonymous don’t mind these f00Iish upnd diasporans. They are eviI and to them they celebrate death because they believe the bl00d of lnnocent people will give p0wer to their freemas0n leader hh.
Dr kaunda was an honest leader who did not
Amass wealth for himself.He always put his
Country and people first.look at his ministers
And children non can claim to be rich.
“Dr Kaunda who died yesterday aged 97 was the first Head of State to visit Botswana shortly after its independence in 1966”.”His four-day State visit to Botswana, from May 21st, to May 24th, 1968″ Ba L,T which one is which?
Thank You Rre Masisi and the Good and Kind People of Botswana for this befitting message of support and condolences. Botswana is an All-Weather friend. We cannot thank you enough – PULA!!; ONE ZAMBIA, ONE NATION. PULA!!
@Anonymous and @abena Matthew 7:16, says “You will know them by their fruits” Fruits in this media arena is their words. Do not mind them they are cut from a different cloth. Now is the time to show our true colors (fruits) of One Zambia One Nation
Imwe maiche Kaizer Zulu, with your terrible grammar. I can’t believe you were advising Lungu with such terrible writing. Go back to primary school.
Thank you Botswana for standing with Zambia in this hour of mourning.
@3 Anonymous :
Mind yourself, did I injure you, your Kateka is busy traversing the Zambian terrain to woo votes at the expense of important things here. Bamudala nabatusha, yena ale Kampena kubulozi uko!
He should have left that place immediately after hearing sad news.
Don’t support foolishly ok.
PF must go!
Patriot am not English. I didn’t need to be a master of English to be more successful than you. So what is your point
Parliament should after the elections seek to make KK’s date of birth a national holiday in honor of the founding father and history! Zambians are very poor at documenting their own historical events and records. One can tell from the patchwork of shallow compilations that attempt to share the Zambia story or promote tourism highlights.