Former Zambian President Dr Kenneth David Kaunda wants the continent to strengthen regional integration and keep tabs on Pan-Africanism to stimulate progress and development.
According to Mr Kaunda, there is hope for the continent with the young people at the helm in their quest to build Africa.
Mr Kaunda made the observations while meeting the EALA Speaker Rt Hon Daniel Kidega who paid a courtesy call at the former president’s office in Lusaka, Zambia.
“When I see progress in Africa, I feel happy that we continue to adhere to the solid foundation laid by Their Excellencies, Milton Obote, Julius Kambarage Nyerere and Jomo Kenyatta among others,” Mr Kaunda said.
On his part Rt Hon Kidega assured Dr Kaunda that the integration process was very much on track, and briefed him on the progress realised so far at the EAC in general and the EALA in particular.
He remarked that the Founding Fathers of the EAC had envisaged a strong bloc of the partner states and that the region had continued to intensely benefit from integration and that the bloc was today bigger.
“Your Excellency, the region today boasts of a stronger GDP and now has six countries. The Republic of South Sudan just joined the EAC at the recent 17th Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State. They now join the Republics of Burundi and Rwanda as well as the three original Partner States in strengthening the bloc,” the Speaker said.
He also noted that African democracies were progressing although the path was not necessarily smooth.
The meeting was attended by EALA Member Hon Makongoro Nyerere and Senior Public Relations Officer, Bobi Odiko.
Dr Kenneth David Kaunda, fondly known as KK in Zambia, served as the first President of Zambia, from 1964 to 1991. Hitherto, Dr Kaunda was a leading figure in his country’s independence movement.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.
After ceding power in the first multi-party elections in 1991, Dr Kaunda regained stature as one of Africa’s political giants, helping mediate crises in Zimbabwe and Kenya.
Dr Kaunda was also a campaigner in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
