Known as the singing President, Kenneth Kaunda died today in Lusaka, Zambia, age 97. He left a song summarizing his vision for Peace Through Tourism, Climate Change, and African Tourism.
- African Tourism, Climate Change was part of the founding president’s vision. Listen to the song he presented celebrating Peace Through Tourism.
- The Founding President of Zambia is dead, age 97. He is seen as a national hero, a great statesman, a champion not only for Zambia he loved so much but for all of Africa.
- The African Tourism Board expressed its sympathy to the Government and People of Zambia and to the Kaunda family on the passing of former Zambia President Kenneth Kaunda with statements issued by the President and Chairman of ATB.
A hero for Zambia and a founding president who believes in tourism as a driver of world peace, passed away in Lusaka today. Kaunda was President of Zambia from 1964 to 1991.
In May 2011, the first President of Zambia, Kenneth Kaunda, addressed the opening ceremony of the IIPT (International Institute for Peace Through Tourism) conference in Lusaka. He presented his vision for Zambia and for Peace Through Tourism in a song.
– Dr. Kaunda receiving the WANGO World Peace Award from Taj Hamad with Dr. Noel Brown, (then) Chairman, IIPT International Advisory Board taking part – during 3rd IIPT African Conference in Lusaka, Zambia – 2008
Cuthbert Ncube, the Chairman of the African Tourism Board, posted a message saying, “Africa has lost a great statesman, a Pan-Africanist – Dr. Kenneth Kaunda – the father of Zambia. May he rest in Peace. And we continue to fight for a United Africa through Tourism as a unifying sector.”
“Former President Kaunda was a staunch supporter of tourism for Zambia and the whole of Africa. He was an advocate on the issue of climate change, as well as for Peace Through Tourism,” said World Tourism Network Chairman Juergen Steinmetz, who also took the video of the late president singing at the IIPT conference in 2011.
Dr. Kaunda planting the first of six olive trees together with Dr. Taleb Rifai, (then) Secretary General, UNWTO – as Victoria Falls was re-dedicated as an IIPT International Peace Park as the featured event of Opening Day of the UNWTO 20th General Assembly in 2013. The 6 olive trees were brought from a greenhouse adjacent to Bethany Beyond the Jordan, site of Christ’s baptism and also an IIPT International Peace Park, by H.E. Akel Biltaji representing H.M. King Abdullah II.“I have had the pleasure and the honor of meeting with President Kaunda on many occasions on my different working missions as the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism. He was a man of the people, and as he waved his white handkerchief as his trademark sign, he ran into conferences to the speakers podium always with the same grace and humility. Our discussions about Africa and the Pan-Africanism spirit were always enlightening and personally rewarding,” said Alain St.Ange. the President of the African Tourism Board.
President Kaunda met with ATB President St. Ange at the International Peace Park in Livingstone during the IIPT tree planting event to mark the UNWTO 20th General Assembly which was being organized jointly by Zambia and Zimbabwe.
He planted his first peace tree with Dr. Taleb Rifai, UNWTO Secretary-General at that time.
Thanks to the late President, it was the third time Zambia was in the Center of Peace Through Tourism in 2013. After hosting two international events for the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism (IIPT), and after dedicating Victoria Falls as a Peace Park 3 years prior, Zambia is firm in its commitment to support peace and tourism.
Walter Mzembi, former Minister of Tourism for Zimbabwe, tweeted: “Portraits of a Patriarch, Founding Father, Statesman, Liberator, Humanist & Philanthropist! We were rooting for 100, but we thank God Almighty for the blessing you were for 97 years. Heaven has gained our irreplaceable loss.”
While in Livingstone, Akel received a call notifying him that he was named Mayor of Greater Amman. Unfortunately – we also lost Akel about 2 months ago as a result of contracting the corona virus.
May Dr. Kenneth Kaunda rest in peace