By Kombe Mataka
FORMER South African president Thabo Mbeki will this month give a lecture on Dr Kenneth Kaunda’s contribution to Zambian political life.
The event that has been organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Kenneth Kaunda Children of Africa Foundation (KKCAF), will be held under the theme “Kenneth Kaunda and Ethical Leadership”.
CPD executive director Caroline Katotobwe said the public lecture would be preceded by a colloquium.
“We are pleased to announce that Zambia will be hosting two VVIP guests to grace this two-day exhibition of Dr Kaunda’s works, writings, videos and other memorabilia depicting his life and work, an academic colloquium and a public lecture. The first day will showcase the colloquium or a seminar to be held on 29th of June and shall involve five – six academic presentations on the life of Dr Kaunda,” she said.
The papers would cover several themes including Kaunda the man; Kaunda on Peace and Liberation of Southern African Region; Kaunda in Zambian History; Kaunda and Industrial Democracy; and Kaunda’s Humanism.
The colloquium will be opened by former Mozambique president Joachim Chissano.
Katotobwe said the second day would include a memorial public lecture to be delivered by Mbeki.
“Both leaders hail from countries that Zambia, through Dr Kaunda during the one-party-state helped to liberate while they endured European imperialism and apartheid. As you may be aware, Zambia hosted the liberation movements to help liberate much of the SADC region,” said Katotobwe. “We are delighted to inform the nation, through the media that this two-day exhibition will be open to the public. The colloquium and public public lecture will be open to the public by special invitation and ticket only. 500 people will be invited to both the academic colloquium and the public lecture. Entrance will strictly be by ticket or special invitation.”
Tourism permanent secretary Evans Muhanga said the memorial lecture would enrich the country’s social economic history and political heritage.
“It also offers the country an opportunity to be developed into a tourism product with benefits accruing to the present and future generations. It is possible that some of our current generations within and outside Zambia may not have heard or even comprehend the benefits of epitomising the life and legacy of KK,” he said.
Muhanga announced the ministry was envisaging establishing a Kenneth Kaunda Memorial Museum to preserve his legacy for posterity.
And CPD board chairman Neo Simutanyi said Mbeki was the best to grace the event.
“We have asked another icon, His Excellency Thabo Mbeki, the second president of South Africa to come and speak on the inaugural public lecture on ethical leadership. I am sure you agree with me that Thabo Mbeki also exhibited ethical leadership. During his time Thabo Mbeki fired his vice-president, Jacob Zuma. One Jacob Zuma who was named in some scandal,” said Dr Simutanyi. “He went on to be president but was removed because of the same issue of not displaying ethical leadership. I think up to now Jacob Zuma is still appearing in court. So there is no better person to have come to grace this occasion.”