Kaunda, Kenneth

President of Zambia 1964 - 1991
(28.04.1924 -)
Kaunda was a teacher and headmaster during the early 40s. He engaged himself in the fomer so called North Rhodesia for the independence of the country and founded in 1958 the Zambia African national Congress ZANC. This organisation was banned in 1959 and Kaunda arrested for several months. After his release from prison Kaunda became president of the newly founded United National Independence Party UNIP and participated as their candidate in the 1962 elections. The british colonial masters released Zambia on 24.10.1964 into independence. In the 1964 elections the UNIP won the vast majority of the votes, and consequently Kaunda became the first prime minister. Kaunda fought unrest after the elections 1968 by introducing single party governing. Increasing corruption and missmanagement caused economic downturn, making Kaunda loosing support of the population. After national and international pressure had risen, Kaunda accepted to move back into multiparty elections in 1991. These elections were won by the opposition party Movement for Multiparty Democracy MMD and Fredrick Chiluba became new president. Since then Kaunda engages himself in various UN-missions in various functions.