By John Ikani
Zambia’s government has announced that the funeral service and burial for founding President Kenneth Kaunda will take place next month, precisely on the 7th of July 2021.
The hero of the struggle against white rule in southern Africa “shall be put to rest… at a very private ceremony for family and selected invited mourners,” Vice President Inonge Wina said on state television.
According to Wina, the remains of Kaunda will travel to all provinces in a farewell procession from 23 June to 5 July. Citizens will be allowed to view his body in each provincial capital as he lies in state.
The Vice president who noted that an official state funeral will be held on at the city’s 60,000-seat National Heroes Stadium on July 2 at Lusaka, added that Kaunda will be buried at the country’s presidential burial site situated opposite the cabinet office in Lusaka, following a state memorial to be held.
She added that “in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, foreign leaders may be accompanied by just one official.”
Kaunda died Thursday at a military hospital where he had been admitted days earlier with pneumonia.
