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Chambo Ng’uni Correspondent
Although his name is not among the prominent freedom fighters in the history annals, Doubt Mulenga is one of the people, who participated in the struggle for independence. Mr Mulenga (89) is happy to have participated in the liberation struggle of Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia, from British rule. Before the indigenous people won the freedom to govern themselves, he recalls how they were suffering at the hands of colonial masters, whose interest was to continue governing the affairs of the second biggest copper producer in Africa.

“You see, in those days, we were like slaves in our own country. Those people treated us badly,” he says.
Mr Mulenga, a Kabwe resident, who was 36 when Zambian won political independence, recalls how white settlers were given preferential treatment while black people were regarded as second-class citizens. For example, they could not set foot in the stores where the white people did their shopping.

To buy meat and other necessities, they had to do so through the window. Access to education was not a right for indigenous Northern Rhodesians, save for those that were educated by missionaries or those who were given minimal education by the colonisers to enable them do clerical jobs. This is what prompted the desire for self-rule and the fight for political freedom. Mr Mulenga pays tribute to first republican President Kenneth Kaunda and many other freedom fighters, such as Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe, Arthur Wina, Grey Zulu, Mama Chibesakunda Kankasa, as unsung heroes and heroines who put their lives at risk to fight for Zambia’s freedom. Former UNIP secretary-general Grey Zulu, Ben Kapufi, Rasford Nkonde, George Chewe and Henry Shambenshi are some of the freedom fighters he remembers in Kabwe.

“We had leaders like Kenneth Kaunda, Nkumbula, (Simon Mwansa) Kapwepwe fighting at the national level,” he said at his home in Natuseko Site and Service. We also had people like Grey Zulu here in Kabwe who were also fully involved in liberating our country from British rule,” Mr Mulenga says. He says the fight for freedom was not an easy one because the colonial administration, through the police force, were brutalising and intimidating freedom fighters so as to quench the spirit of uhuru.

He said Zambia won her independence because of the fighting spirit that was exhibited by gallant women, men and the youth. Many freedom fighters, he recalls, were thrown in prison and tortured for their involvement in the liberation movement. And for fear of being arrested, some freedom fighters set camp in the bush where they were sleeping to flee from the colonisers’ pursuit.

“The treatment was not good,” he says with a sad look. “We were like slaves in our own country.” Mr Mulenga says as one of the surviving freedom fighters, he is happy that since 1964, Zambia has enjoyed freedom and peace. He is, however, quick to urge people in the country to value the peace the country is enjoying because it was won at a great cost. Mr Mulenga, who was among scores of people in Kabwe who flocked to Winter Muleya Stadium on October 24, 1964 to celebrate Zambia’s independence, says citizens should ensure that they maintain and uphold national unity.

Much as Zambia is a multi-party democracy, he says, this should not divide the country because of different political affiliations and ideologies. Mr Mulenga implores political leaders to respect one another and provide the kind of leadership that will help unite Zambia. He says politicians should not preoccupy themselves with winning political power at all costs but rather should put the interest of the country first.

“We should be united as a people of this country. What we wanted was freedom to govern ourselves and now we are free,” he says. — Zambia Daily Mail. He says the youth must appreciate that the freedom they are enjoying came as a result of the sacrifices of other people. Mr Mulenga says Zambia’s 53rd independence anniversary calls for celebration because of the socio-economic benefits that the country is enjoying and also as a way of paying tribute to the fallen heroes and heroines.

“Every Zambian should celebrate Independence Day because if it were not for freedom from British rule, we would not achieve what we have achieved today,” he says. The octogenarian’s wish is to see freedom fighters who are still alive being recognised for the role they played in the struggle for independence.

“In other countries freedom fighters have been recognised and given the respect that they deserve. I wish the same thing can happen here in Zambia,” he says. Above all, Mr Mulenga’s prayer is for Zambia to remain a peaceful country where citizens are united under the “One Zambia, One Nation” motto. — Zambia Daily Mail.