Kaunda's Daughter Dies

Lusaka, Zambia – The nation mourns the passing of Catherine Kaunda, the eldest daughter of Zambia's iconic founding father, Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda. She died in Lusaka on Saturday, a somber announcement made by her son, Mwenya Mwanza. Her passing was further confirmed by Zambia's High Commissioner to Namibia, Stephen Katuka, highlighting her significant connection to both nations. Catherine Kaunda's life was deeply intertwined with Zambia's political narrative, particularly the tumultuous period following her father's presidency. She had made Namibia her home for close to 30 years, having moved there in the mid-1990s amidst political instability in Zambia. This relocation came after a controversial High Court ruling in 1999, under the administration of former President Frederick Chiluba, declared Dr. Kenneth Kaunda stateless. This decision had profound implications for the entire Kaunda family, stripping them of their legal status and forcing many into exile or uncertainty. The challenges intensified for Catherine following the assassination of her brother, Wezi Kaunda, in Lusaka in 1999. She briefly sought political asylum in South Africa but faced diplomatic complications, leading to a seven-day ultimatum to leave the country. It was then that Namibia, under the leadership of President Sam Nujoma, offered her refuge and a new beginning. She eventually became a Namibian citizen and built a life there, working diligently in the public service, rising from a secretary to a training officer in the Office of the Prime Minister. Her connection to Namibia was further solidified when the Namibian government presented Dr. Kenneth Kaunda with a house in Windhoek in 2013, in recognition of his unwavering support for Namibia's liberation struggle. Dr. Kaunda subsequently gifted this house to Catherine, where she continued to live with her youngest son and grandson until her final visit to Zambia. Her return to Lusaka for this visit marked her final moments in the country