The South African Communist Party (SACP) has conveyed its condolences to the family of former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda, following the announcement of his death on Thursday.

The party is calling for unity among African people.

Kaunda, aged 97, was admitted to a military hospital in the capital, Lusaka, on Monday, suffering from pneumonia.

“In memory of Kenneth Kaunda, the SACP calls for unity of the African people in the fight for the total liberation of Africa from imperialism. The political and economic sovereignty of the African continent is imperative for democratic transformation and development. The SACP also calls for unity of the working class in leading the struggle forward for complete emancipation, for socialism,” said the SACP.

Meanwhile, Parliament’s Presiding Officers, led by the Speaker of the National Assembly Thandi Modise, and Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces Amos Masondo expressed sadness at the passing of the former Zambian President.

“Today, we bow our heads in honour to the gallant son of Africa, the founding father of democratic Zambia and one of the last of his generation of African liberation leaders. He was an uncompromising African nationalist, an outspoken critic of the apartheid regime. We owe our freedom and liberation to his selfless leadership,” they said.

UNITY, EQUALITY AND PEACE

Kaunda played a critical mediation role in the freedom of fellow founding democratic President Nelson Mandela and his humility and exemplary leadership is worth emulation, said the Commonwealth of Nations Secretary-General Patricia Scotland.

She described Kaunda as a great African statesman and Commonwealth leader whose legacy of fostering unity, equality, peace, and human dignity will endure.

"His contribution towards building the modern Commonwealth is one of his enduring legacies. President Kaunda hosted the 1979 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which saw the adoption of the Lusaka Declaration of the Commonwealth on Racism and Racial Prejudice, which was a reaffirmation of the Commonwealth commitment to fighting inequality and racial prejudice," said Scotland.

She gave her assurance of the Commonwealth’s solidarity with the people of Zambia.