Zambia’s first President Kenneth Kaunda has died aged 97.
On Monday his office revealed that he was admitted because of Pneumonia disease.
Kaunda was admitted to the Maina Soko Medical Centre, a centre that is popularly used for treatment of Covid-19.
The president of Zambia, Edgar Lungu urged Zambians to pray for the former president after news that he had been admitted.
He became the first president of independent Zambia, serving from 1964 to 1991.
Initially, a popular leader, Kaunda became increasingly autocratic and banned all opposition parties.
He eventually ceded power in the first multi-party elections in 1991, losing to trade unionist Fredrick Chiluba.
While in power he hosted many of the movements fighting for independence or black equality in other countries around the region, including South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC).
Later in life, he regained stature as one of Africa’s political giants, helping to mediate crises in Zimbabwe and Kenya.
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