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Kenneth Kaunda

Prof Jameson Kurasha Correspondent
ZAMBIA is a very special country to Zimbabwe. At their independence in 1964, under the leadership of Dr Kenneth Kaunda, the Zambians did something that surpasses all human understanding. They refused to accept that they were free until all people in southern Africa were free.

Under President Kaunda, Zambians did not do the politically ‘pragmatic’ thing of asking: “What will happen to us if we support Zimbabweans, South Africans, Mozambicans, Namibians and Angolans?”

To paraphrase Dr King, Zambians turned the question around and asked: “What will happen to Zimbabweans, South Africans, Mozambicans, Namibians and Angolans if we do not help them?”

Their stance, Dr King would point out was incredibly moral — just like that of the Good Samaritan because what they did was: (1) dangerous, (2) universal and (3) Excessive.

(1) They suffered economically as Rhodesian attacks were constant and deadly. All moral missions are dangerous. Jesus was nailed to a tree by cruel beings he had come to rescue on earth. Because of their moral stance against racial programs, the Zambian economy was so damaged to the extent where most citizens could not afford bread. Having a caring heart is a moral imperative but that does not prevent the dangers that come with the caring heart, (moyo Muchena unokuvadza) and our Zambian brothers and sisters paid dearly for doing the right things.

(2) Just like the Good Samaritan who did not consider the ethnic origin of the victim bleeding besides the road an issue, Zambians supported the liberation of every oppressed person in southern Africa. Race, language or tribe was not an important issue. Humanity, dignity, justice and equality for all i.e. universality of being human was the issue. In a nation of 73 linguistic groups; ‘Zambia’ was the universal quality that united every one. Language, colour, height, gender, economic class, religion were all accidents.

In the Philosophy of Humanism propounded by Dr Kaunda, all Africans are one. The oppression of a Zimbabwean was the oppression of a Bemba too. Hence the liberation of a Shona, Ndebele, Xhosa, was the liberation of a Lozi, Nyanja and Mu Lubale.

(3) Moral missions are not like football games that are played for 90 minutes or church services with clear time lines where participants know when the event begins and ends. If you are dealing with a moral challenge, the exit point is not always self evident. Under Dr Kenneth Kaunda, Zambians did not give up until Mandela was free. Even recently, Zambia intervened when Zimbabwe needed maize. Apparently President Sata shipped it immediately and advised Zimbabwe to discuss money after: “when people have been fed.” That is what Dr King calls “excessive altruism”. If Jesus did not have excessive altruism he would have given in after the first nail penetrated his palm.

If the Good Samaritan did not have excessive altruism he would have just dumped the bleeding victim somewhere safe without taking him to an inn and without promising to follow up. Zambians did not just shelter us but they went further by offering to join us in crossing the Zambezi — without stopping in Harare. They also wanted to join Oliver Tambo, Govan Mbeki and others in crossing the Limpopo . . . “Tiyende Pamodzi ndimutima umodzi.… Tioloke Zambezi ndimutima umodzi…” but going beyond that to the crossing of the “Limpopo ndimutima ubodzi.” The moral stance taken by Zambia during the past 50 years is a narrative with a permanent place in classics and humanities of institutions of education especially in Africa.

These are personal reflections about a special nation called Zambia. Zambia became independent in a very hostile and unjust environment. This was at a time when it was basically ‘normal’ to look up to white people as superior people and world over, that perception was accepted and protected by economic and military might.

Those who challenged the doctrine were labelled ‘terrorists’ and ‘communists.’ These emotive labels were used to legitimise racial domination allover Africa and beyond.

Zambian altruism, believing that all human beings are equal, faced military and economic dangers courageously and excessively until the entire Southern African region was freed from racial domination.

Kenneth Kaunda and Robert Mugabe are still alive happily seeing the fruits of their endurance. Nelson Mandela and Michael Sata have just departed from us with the satisfaction of knowing that their generation did not fight in vain. Michael Sata wanted people to eat before financial discussions. The moral fighter may not have been “a perfect man” but he knew his “perfect mission.”

These thoughts came to mind because of significant events in that country this week: that is, 50 years since independence and the death of that unique human being President Michael Sata. May his Soul rest in peace?

Prof Jameson Kurasha, Higher Degrees Directorate, Zimbabwe Open University.