This archive report was first published on 8 July 2021.
On July 7, 2021, Zambia's founding leader Kenneth Kaunda was laid to rest at the country's presidential burial site, a special cemetery dedicated for the country's leaders, after an 11th-hour bid by some of his relatives to block the interment was turned down.
According to reports, Kaunda, who was also a hero of the struggle against white rule in southern Africa, died on June 17, 2021, at the age of 97.
His children paid glowing tribute to Kaunda, portraying him as a fighter and teacher whose attributes should be emulated.
"Go well, you fought the good fight of faith, you have finished the race. We will miss you so much," said one of his daughters, Musata Banda.
As the funeral got underway, High Court judge Wilfred Muma turned down the application to have him buried at his farm, saying "public interest overrides personal interest" and that "Kaunda was not an ordinary person".
President Edgar Lungu declared Kaunda's birthday, April 28, as a national holiday in honour of the country's first president.
On the day of the burial, hundreds of mourners attended a church service, including Mozambique's ex-president Joachim Chissano, Zambia's former president Rupiah Banda, and Hakainde Hichilema, the head of the main opposition United Party for National Development (UPND).
Leader of Kaunda's United National Independence Party (UNIP), Trevor Mwamba, urged Zambia to honour Kaunda by holding peaceful elections next month.
The country will hold presidential and legislative polls on August 12.
