By Sishuwa Sishuwa
In Zambia, the honour of ‘Father of the Nation’ formally belongs to founding president Kenneth Kaunda, who retains it even in death, as it is neither inheritable nor transferable. (Although the honour of ‘Father of the Nation’ is already taken, the title of Zambia’s ‘Father of Corruption’ is still available or up for grabs. With many worthy candidates, the competition is stiff.)
The ‘Father of the Nation’ honour was conferred on Kaunda by President Levy Mwanawasa at a specially organised state ceremony on 15 January 2003 in recognition of his role in the liberation of Zambia and the creation of the newly independent country.
The phrase ‘Father of the Nation’ gained considerable currency in recent times, but it has long historical roots. It goes back to the emergence of nations such as the United States of America in the eighteenth century whose constitutional writers became known as the ‘Founding Fathers’ in subsequent years.
It was also previously used to refer to the rulers of the British (e.g., King George III who reigned from 1738 to1820) and Late Ottoman (e.g., the Sultan) empires who were seen as watching over and caring for all their subjects as a way of consolidating their power and unifying people of different faiths, ethnic, and social origins into one political body or ‘nation-state’.
In the early and middle parts of the twentieth century, the ‘Father of the Nation’ concept was appropriated by dictators in countries such as Zaire, Russia, and North Korea as a coercive strategy of reinforcing their authority and building legitimacy. Attempts to challenge such rulers were often criminalised, as they were seen as a direct threat to the unity, harmony, and healthy body of the nation-state as a whole. Personality cults emerged within this context as collaborative interactional enterprises jointly created, modified, and sustained by cultic leaders and their followers.
In Africa, the idea of ‘Father of the Nation’ is closely tied to the struggle against colonialism. Following the achievement of independence or majority rule, African nationalists who had formally led the struggle against colonial rule and white minority regimes became known as ‘Founding Fathers’ in their respective countries. The individual figures who, for strategic reasons, served as the spearhead of the nationalist movement in each country, mainly those who went on to become the first presidents of the newly created independent states, were accorded the honour of ‘Father of the Nation’ in recognition of the effective leadership they provided during the liberation struggle and rendered to the cause of nation building in the early years of independence.
These included Léopold Senghor in Senegal, Jomo Kenyatta in Kenya, Julius Nyerere in Tanzania, Kwame Nkrumah in Ghana, Nnamdi Azikiwe in Nigeria, Nelson Mandela in South Africa, Sam Nujoma in Namibia, both Joshua Nkomo and Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe, and indeed Kaunda in Zambia.
As is the case with several countries in Africa, Zambia did not exist before the achievement of independence, so the title of ‘Father of the Nation’ almost has a literal meaning, equivalent to actually “giving birth to” a nation. This is because the first president and his nationalist colleagues had to name the territory and create a cohesive nation from previously self-governing ethnic-language groups that had, prior to the imposition of colonial rule, existed as independent kingdoms.
Mwanawasa’s recognition of Kaunda as ‘Father of the Nation’ was also a rehabilitation of the stature of the founding president after the horrible treatment that he suffered at the hands of the Fredrick Chiluba-led MMD administration over the course of the 1991-2001 period. For instance, following his removal from office in 1991, Kaunda was stripped of his Zambian citizenship before the government tried to have him deported to Malawi, from where his parents originated. When this plan failed, the MMD, fearful of defeat, introduced a constitutional clause that required a presidential candidate to have both parents born in Zambia, effectively excluding Kaunda from running in the 1996 elections and prompting the main opposition party, UNIP, to boycott the polls.
Kaunda also survived an assassination attempt on 23 August 1997 when police opened fire on a mass rally he was addressing as head of an 11-opposition party alliance, nearly killing him. (Another opposition leader, Rodger Chongwe, needed emergency surgery after the same bullet that wounded Kaunda hit him.) A few months later, Kaunda was arrested, alongside 80 others, and charged with treason in connection with a failed coup attempt against Chiluba in October 1997. After spending months in Mukobeko Maximum Security Prison, the state dropped the treason charge against him on 1 June 1998 when trial was due to start.
What is deeply problematic about the notion of ‘Father of the Nation’ is that it reinforces patriarchal tendencies by overlooking the fundamental role of women in the liberation struggle and the creation of Zambia. In other words, the struggle for independence was not fought by men alone. In fact, no historic struggle has ever been fought and won by men only. This begs the question: if Kenneth Kaunda is the ‘Father of the Nation’, who is Zambia’s ‘Mother of the Nation’? After all, to have a father, there must be a mother, no?
Only in socialist Marxist communist COUNTRIES do you find such titles. In Zambia we can simply call KK and colleagues as our FOUNDING FATHERS. Nothing further than that.
Thank you for the clarification. Chakolwa has neither the stature or calibre to be accorded such a distinguished honorable title. Between him and his Mentor RB, they can fight over father of corruption title.
#2 William Banda
March 15, 2022 At 6:51 am
“Thank you for the clarification. Chakolwa has neither the stature or calibre to be accorded such a distinguished honorable title. Between him and his Mentor RB, they can fight over father of corruption title…”
RBs corruption was insignificant in comparison to lungus……….
Lungu was corrupt through and through , every cell in lungu is corrupt…….
The Father of the Nation of Zambia will always be Kenneth Kaunda and his wife Betty will always be the Mother of the Nation. Other freedom fighters can only be Comrades and gallant sons and daughters of the land
I hope the PF have read this. Indeed the position of father of corruption is still available for their godfather.
Lungu is not even interested in that title, neither has he requested for it. It doesn’t add or subtract anything from his life after all. Give that title to HH if you so wish.
Zambia’s father of the Nation is the late KK, ubututu ba Zambia, nefyomulwisha
#7 I don’t see why this issue is even being debated. Lungu has not laid claim to the title. Panji Kaunda started this nonsense out of frustration which is a result of being sidelined by Lungu.
I’m sure SS can easily find a subject that will add value to our nation instead of wasting time and money on a worthless subject. If SS wants to go after Lungu, he should find something that Lungu has contributed to our suffering. Talking about who’s FATHER OF THE NATION won’t put nshima on our table.
Father of the Nation?, aikona ba Jona Chakoks!!
Father of the Chalo???
Aik0na ba Godfather of vi0lence & Corrupti0n, aka ba J0na K@dansa Chak0lw@!
This African thing or is it the Zambian thing is strange, there is no Father or Mother of the nation in any country, we are all citizens. Titles that accrue to individuals in Zambia or indeed any other country are clearly enshrined and spelt out in the constitution. Not sure why Zambians like discussing non existent issues and non issues most of the time
Primitive doctor. Primitive clique. Primitive cadres. Primitive thinkers. Party for primitive
There is nothing like Father of the Nation. Those are just imaginary artificial things. They should all be referred to as former Presidents with no exception at all as per constitution which is the supreme law of the land. Stop creating things that don’t exist and start looking at the way things are done in civilized countries, not even the queen is referred to as the mother of the nation, Britons would laugh and choke with laughter to hear such empty things
Time will come when you will want it on your own and the same lunatik dok will mislead you into believing him. shameless haters.
It is KK then HH only
(Although the honour of ‘Father of the Nation’ is already taken, the title of Zambia’s ‘Father of Corruption’ is still available or up for grabs. With many worthy candidates, the competition is stiff.) This is fitting….
ALL BOLL0CKS !
KK is founding only or 1St President
If Kaunda got that title by virtual of him liberating Zambia, it follows that Mwanawasa conferred the status on someone who deserved it already. He then didn’t require LPM’s apprival. Like he was giving it to the already given.
“Father of The Nation” is someome the current president could go to for advice when needed by the incumbent.
Let’s not have narratives that FTJ, ECL or RB never did any thing possive or remarkable, for Zambia. Former president must not be always vilified. They have shaped Zambia in a given direction. We mustn’t sow seeds of discord.
Lungu is not interested in that title. He is leaving a quiet life just consuming free tax payers money. Nothing will be taken away from him when history of Zambia is being rewritten.Hate him. Call him corrupt. But his name is written in the stone of Zambia’s history. Chisusi will die with his Phd, no one will recognize his contribution to the nation.
Rubbish. People are rioting at the Black mountain and all you are doing is talking about a worthless title. If you want to be a father get married, sire a thousand children, form a village and you will be called father of the village without dispute.
KK is the father of nation. The rest are step fathers.
This Father of the nation stupidity must stop. Mr Kaunda was the father of Panji and his siblings while that stinking thieving fool called Lungu fathered his children including bamwa macacani! I have my own dearest father, finish!
A PRESIDENT WHO DESTROYED A PROSPEROUS NATION
IS STILL CONSIDERED A HERO ?
i’m not sure about that one!!! say no more!!!!
Extremely very useless article.
Sit down $+up!d !d!0+.
All fathers of nation are from the east and northern Kk, ecl, mcs. Greatest leaders
What does that title do to any politician? And why do we wanna see things so narrowly? As if politics is our only concern.
Let’s have a father of our football fields too. And a father/mother of our musical stage? And a father/mother of our religious world? Etc etc
Kainyokolola Zulu, why do you alway have to be the one puking stinking excrement all the time? You really are like a napkin, always full of Shi.t and stinky and stinking and yet you seem to take so much pride in the warmth oozing from it into you dark backside where it never shines. Masipa ahao wena namunungu.
Now some people have been trying to call this nanikani, this one from at he is the Father of the Nation. Which Father of the nation. e is the father of corruption. The one who brought this country to its knees due to his corruption and that of his fellow leaders in his Party. Some of his leaders even laughed at KK’s children at they didn’t use the opportunity when their father was in power to enrich themselves(This illiterate cadre and boot licker was quoted saying)