The first president of Zambia, Kenneth Kaunda, has died aged 97, local news sources have confirmed. He was the country’s founding father and ruled for 27 years from 1964 after it gained independence from Britain.
Kaunda’s death comes days after reports that he was admitted to Maina Soko military hospital in the capital Lusaka, where he was treated for pneumonia from Monday.
A Facebook post by his son, Kambarage Kaunda, announced the Zambian founding president’s passage.
Kambarage asked for prayers for his father whom he called Mzee.