Zambia: Kenneth David Kaunda

Updated October 2001

Kenneth was born on April 28 1924 at Lubwa Mission where he received his education. He became a school teacher in 1943 and school head master in 1944.

It was during his teaching days that he became involved with the African National Congress (ANC) an organisation that he helped to found. In 1953 he served as ANC Secretary General. In 1959 the ANC was banned for opposing the Federation of Rhodesia and Kaunda was jailed.

On his release, owing to his more radical stance, he broke away from the ANC to form a splinter organisation known as the Zambia African National Congress, ZANC which eventually lead to the formation of the United National Independence Party, UNIP. The UNIP's manifesto was to accelerate Zambia (Northern Rhodesia's) independence.

The UNIP came to power in the pre-independence elections, taking 55 of the 65 seats, beating the ANC. Kaunda's term was characterised by a preference for socialist policies and nationalisation strategies. Dissatisfaction and restlessness with the state of the country's economy was apparent when in 1989 and 1990 there were two coup attempts.

With the fall of communism in Eastern Europe, Kaunda was forced to change his outlook and replace his one party state with a multi-party democracy. This happened in 1991. Although he resigned from office after the UNIP lost the 1991 elections he made a comeback during the 1996 elections which was thwarted by the current ruling party's legislation strategies.

Kaunda married Betty Kaunda and they had nine children.