Obituaries for Dr. Kenneth Kaunda and Mr. James Zulu

It is never easy remembering the so many family, friends and colleagues we have lost over the past few unusually tragic years. The AOOA would like in particular to offer the following sympathies.

Just over a week ago we received the following sad notification from our Civil Aviation Authority’s Director General: “It is with deep regret that I wish to announce the untimely death of Mr. James Zulu this morning of 13th June 2021 at the University Teaching Hospital.” 

The AOOA joins the many in our community who have already posted their condolences to James Zulu’s family and friends following his recent untimely passing. James has been a stalwart in the aviation community for many years from being an exceptional flight simulator instructor and trainer to a well-liked and highly respected official in the CAA, always a calm and steadying influence for the betterment of aviation in Zambia. MHSRIP

Whatever one’s political persuasions, we are also moved by the more recent loss of Zambia’s founding father and first President of the Republic of Zambia, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, and the AOOA joins the nation with our condolences and sympathies to Dr Kaunda’s family, friends and compatriots. His loss is nothing less than the passing of an era. MHSRIP 

President of Zambia from 1964 to 1991, Kenneth Kaunda or KK as he was affectionately known, passed away on 17th June aged 97.

Despite his at times controversial policies KK stood out as one of the most humane and idealistic of Africa’s leaders in the continent’s post-independence era. KK’s abhorrence of violence was somewhat of a rarity in his era.

With his charismatic presence and charm, KK played a notable and broadly unifying role as a leader of the “frontline states” in promoting independence and majority rule on the southern African sub-continent, culminating in 1994 with the democratic election of Nelson Mandela as President of the Republic of South Africa.

Domestically KK was a consummate politician and spent much of his time balancing the interests of an ethnically diverse population. Often when addressing a public meeting, KK will be remembered with guitar in hand singing “Tiyende Pamodzi nimu ntima umo” which is a song of unity.

One of Africa’s longest-ruling heads of state at the time, KK stood down with grace when defeated at the polls in 1991.