KK’s Family Thank UPND For Suspending Campaign

The family of the late First President Kenneth Kaunda have thanked the United Party for National Development (UPND) for temporarily suspending its election campaign as a mark of respect following the founding president’s death last Thursday. 

Dr Kaunda’s son, Kaweche Kaunda, personally thanked UPND president Hakainde Hichilema for the honour he showed his father, during a HH’s visit to the funeral home on Saturday. 

The opposition leader was accompanied on the visit by his running mate Mutale Nalumango and other leaders from the UPND Alliance, including MDC leader Felix Mutati, ADD president Charles Milupi and Kelvin Fube.

On Thursday, Mr Hichilema announced that his party would “suspend all active mobilisation activities until further notice”. So far no other party has yet followed suit.

On Saturday the UPND leader released a video paying tribute to KK, who he had described as a “gallant son of Africa”. 

Later, at the funeral home, he urged his fellow politicians to emulate Dr Kaunda’s leadership. He described the founding president as a great leader, who ingrained in Zambians the values of love, peace and unity under the maxim of One Zambia One Nation.

HH was particularly close with the first president, who endorsed the opposition leader for his first presidential election in 2006.

In his message of condolence, HH expressed optimism that Dr Kaunda’s legacy would survive and serve as a beacon of leadership for others. 

“May his soul rest in peace as we know his legacy will live on,” he said.