calebmuchungu
23rd May 2006, 13:24
By Caleb Muchungu
The clean-shaven man makes his way slowly in the hotel grounds. When he
sees me approaching from the opposite direction, he stops and looks at me,
as if sizing me up. I do not know what grabs his attention towards me, maybe
it is my height or the way I also look at him with interest, but suddenly he
extends his hand in greetings. His grip is firm and long. He clutches his
trademark white handkerchief in one hand and his stare is penetrating.
I am at the Roodevallei Country Lodge in Pretoria, South Africa, to present a
conference paper and I have just met an African icon I have only read of, and
seen on TV or in still pictures. Throughout the conference I am able to interact
with him many more times, finding him very open, cheerful and welcoming.
Kenneth Kaunda, or KK as he is fondly referred to, looks pretty good for his
age. Though a bit slow in his stride, the man who saw Zambia attain its
independence is still pretty strong and there is some grandeur in his gait and
speech. He looks very different from the white bearded, dishevelled man who
graced the newspaper pages when he emerged out of Mukobeko maximum
security prison in Kabwe, 80 miles north of Lusaka in January 1998
Unlike with some retired presidents, such as Daniel arap Moi of Kenya, there
are no menacing guards all over him and no fleet of cars when he comes and
goes away. Instead, an equally old man, who apparently resembles him a
great deal, accompanies him. He does not seem the least bothered when one
approaches Dr Kaunda. He reminds me a lot about former president Jerry
Rawlings of Ghana who, in retirement, drives himself and mixes with the
crowds with ease.
Dr Kaunda is attending the RAISA (Regional AIDS Initiative for Southern
Africa) regional conference. RAISA is an initiative of the Volunteer Services
Organisation (VSO), a charity that works in many parts of the world. Dr.
Kaunda has the task of officially closing the conference but instead he
chooses to attend all the sessions, including group works throughout the four
days of the conference.
At one particular session, there is a light moment when participants, including
Dr Kaunda, are paired and given a condom each. They are then asked to shut
their eyes. In that state, they are supposed to:
<sum> Check whether the condom is within the expiry period.
<sum> Get it out of the packet, using the tear mark.
<sum> Locate the finger of the other member in the pair.
<sum> Put on the condom on the finger of the other person.
As expected, it is chaos all over. The exercise is meant to demonstrate that
manufacturers and service providers have to consider the needs of the
disabled when manufacturing or designing products and services. But even
as the others keep their eyes shut, mine are wide open in a true journalists
form, checking out on Dr Kaunda as he struggles with the condom.
Unfortunately I do not have a camera nearby to capture the moment.
But then, Dr Kaunda is not new to issues of HIV/AIDS. In fact, in 2002 he
decided to go for a HIV test and to declare his status to a nation crippling
under the effects of AIDS. He says, " Even if the test had turned positive, I
would still have declared my status publicly."
His son died of AIDS and in order to demystify HIV/AIDS and fight stigma and
discrimination, He decided to tell the world that his son had died of AIDS. He
says, "when he got very ill, we brought him at our home so that we could care
for him with love and compassion in addition to the medical care" Dr Kaunda
also runs the Kenneth Kaunda Children's Foundation. The foundation cares
for orphans and has an emphasis on food and nutrition to slow down the
effects of HIV.
"By the time Zambia got its independence in 1964, there were only 100
graduates. By the time I left the presidency in 1991 there were 35,000
graduates. Unfortunately, many of these skilled and highly educated people
are now being infected and affected by HIV/AIDS," says Dr Kaunda.
Dr Kaunda loves to sing. He starts his talk at the conference with a song and
ends it with a song. Even when we are taking group photos with him, he sings
"why are we so slow," an impromptu composition to prompt the group to
organise itself more quickly.
Dr Kaunda is one of the former African leaders who are finding a purpose in
life in the wider society after life in the highest offices in their countries.
These
are former leaders who now shun national politics to avoid conflicts with their
successors and instead curve out other less controversial national and
international niches. While some African leaders are clinging to power, this
other breed is happy to be away from active national politics.
The former Zambian leader leant it the hard way when he was thrown in jail
on Christmas Day in 1997 by his successor, Frederic Chiluba for allegedly
being involved in a foiled coup attempt. Kaunda's United National
Independence Party was thrown out of power by Chiluba's Movement for
Multi Party Democracy in 1991when Zambia returned to multi-party
democracy.
Kaunda had continued to engage in national politics and in 1996 tried to
stand for presidency. However, the Chiluba government changed the
constitution so that anyone whose parents came from outside the country was
deemed a foreigner and could therefore not stand in elections.
"To declare me stateless after what I had tried to do for my beloved country
was terrible.
At one time I was sentenced to prison for six months by Mr Chiluba's
government. I think that arrest was my lowest point," Kaunda is quoted as
saying during an interview with the BBC.
The diminutive Chiluba is also now in trouble with the current president, Levy
Mwanawasa over alleged corruption charges. In Malawi former president
Bakili Muluzu is at loggerheads with the current head of state, Bingu wa
Mutharika over national politics. Muluzi, like Chiluba, has not engaged in any
worthy cause away from national politics like the increasingly emerging
retired presidents are doing. Instead, he has engaged the ruling political
establishment in unnecessary tussle. Both Mutharika and Mwanawasa were
handpicked by their predecessors but turned up against them.
Kenya's retired Daniel Moi nearly suffered the wrath of the current regime,
which threatened to strip him of his benefits because of continuously
engaging in local politics. However, he seems to have learnt better, though
once in a while he throws in a salvo at the ruling regime of Mwai Kibaki.
In June 2005, a number of retired African leaders came together in Bamako
Mali to form the African Statesmen Initiative. The Initiative seeks to promote
peace at the same time redefining the role of retired heads of state. Most of
the retired heads in the initiative left the reigns of power in democratic
transitions.
In January 2006, over 15 retired African heads formed the Africa Forum, a
body to offer advisory role to the continent. Led by former South African
leader, Nelson Mandela the forum includes respected former leaders such as
Jerry Rawlings (Ghana) and Quett Masire (Botswana).
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni seemed set to join this crop of leaders at
one time. However, current events in Uganda indicate that Museveni may not
reach that pinnacle. Instead, he has joined a decreasing crop of leaders who
seek to stick to the leadership and might end up like Hissen Habre (Chad),
Charles Taylor (Liberia) and Mengistu Haille Mariam (Ethiopia)– disgraced
and with no role in the world forum.
For the time being, it is "forward ever, backwards never" as Kaunda would
sing, for African leaders who have realised that there is life after State
House.
Caleb Muchungu, a Kenyan journalist, works as a communications officer in
Blantyre, Malawi. E-mail: [email protected]
The clean-shaven man makes his way slowly in the hotel grounds. When he
sees me approaching from the opposite direction, he stops and looks at me,
as if sizing me up. I do not know what grabs his attention towards me, maybe
it is my height or the way I also look at him with interest, but suddenly he
extends his hand in greetings. His grip is firm and long. He clutches his
trademark white handkerchief in one hand and his stare is penetrating.
I am at the Roodevallei Country Lodge in Pretoria, South Africa, to present a
conference paper and I have just met an African icon I have only read of, and
seen on TV or in still pictures. Throughout the conference I am able to interact
with him many more times, finding him very open, cheerful and welcoming.
Kenneth Kaunda, or KK as he is fondly referred to, looks pretty good for his
age. Though a bit slow in his stride, the man who saw Zambia attain its
independence is still pretty strong and there is some grandeur in his gait and
speech. He looks very different from the white bearded, dishevelled man who
graced the newspaper pages when he emerged out of Mukobeko maximum
security prison in Kabwe, 80 miles north of Lusaka in January 1998
Unlike with some retired presidents, such as Daniel arap Moi of Kenya, there
are no menacing guards all over him and no fleet of cars when he comes and
goes away. Instead, an equally old man, who apparently resembles him a
great deal, accompanies him. He does not seem the least bothered when one
approaches Dr Kaunda. He reminds me a lot about former president Jerry
Rawlings of Ghana who, in retirement, drives himself and mixes with the
crowds with ease.
Dr Kaunda is attending the RAISA (Regional AIDS Initiative for Southern
Africa) regional conference. RAISA is an initiative of the Volunteer Services
Organisation (VSO), a charity that works in many parts of the world. Dr.
Kaunda has the task of officially closing the conference but instead he
chooses to attend all the sessions, including group works throughout the four
days of the conference.
At one particular session, there is a light moment when participants, including
Dr Kaunda, are paired and given a condom each. They are then asked to shut
their eyes. In that state, they are supposed to:
<sum> Check whether the condom is within the expiry period.
<sum> Get it out of the packet, using the tear mark.
<sum> Locate the finger of the other member in the pair.
<sum> Put on the condom on the finger of the other person.
As expected, it is chaos all over. The exercise is meant to demonstrate that
manufacturers and service providers have to consider the needs of the
disabled when manufacturing or designing products and services. But even
as the others keep their eyes shut, mine are wide open in a true journalists
form, checking out on Dr Kaunda as he struggles with the condom.
Unfortunately I do not have a camera nearby to capture the moment.
But then, Dr Kaunda is not new to issues of HIV/AIDS. In fact, in 2002 he
decided to go for a HIV test and to declare his status to a nation crippling
under the effects of AIDS. He says, " Even if the test had turned positive, I
would still have declared my status publicly."
His son died of AIDS and in order to demystify HIV/AIDS and fight stigma and
discrimination, He decided to tell the world that his son had died of AIDS. He
says, "when he got very ill, we brought him at our home so that we could care
for him with love and compassion in addition to the medical care" Dr Kaunda
also runs the Kenneth Kaunda Children's Foundation. The foundation cares
for orphans and has an emphasis on food and nutrition to slow down the
effects of HIV.
"By the time Zambia got its independence in 1964, there were only 100
graduates. By the time I left the presidency in 1991 there were 35,000
graduates. Unfortunately, many of these skilled and highly educated people
are now being infected and affected by HIV/AIDS," says Dr Kaunda.
Dr Kaunda loves to sing. He starts his talk at the conference with a song and
ends it with a song. Even when we are taking group photos with him, he sings
"why are we so slow," an impromptu composition to prompt the group to
organise itself more quickly.
Dr Kaunda is one of the former African leaders who are finding a purpose in
life in the wider society after life in the highest offices in their countries.
These
are former leaders who now shun national politics to avoid conflicts with their
successors and instead curve out other less controversial national and
international niches. While some African leaders are clinging to power, this
other breed is happy to be away from active national politics.
The former Zambian leader leant it the hard way when he was thrown in jail
on Christmas Day in 1997 by his successor, Frederic Chiluba for allegedly
being involved in a foiled coup attempt. Kaunda's United National
Independence Party was thrown out of power by Chiluba's Movement for
Multi Party Democracy in 1991when Zambia returned to multi-party
democracy.
Kaunda had continued to engage in national politics and in 1996 tried to
stand for presidency. However, the Chiluba government changed the
constitution so that anyone whose parents came from outside the country was
deemed a foreigner and could therefore not stand in elections.
"To declare me stateless after what I had tried to do for my beloved country
was terrible.
At one time I was sentenced to prison for six months by Mr Chiluba's
government. I think that arrest was my lowest point," Kaunda is quoted as
saying during an interview with the BBC.
The diminutive Chiluba is also now in trouble with the current president, Levy
Mwanawasa over alleged corruption charges. In Malawi former president
Bakili Muluzu is at loggerheads with the current head of state, Bingu wa
Mutharika over national politics. Muluzi, like Chiluba, has not engaged in any
worthy cause away from national politics like the increasingly emerging
retired presidents are doing. Instead, he has engaged the ruling political
establishment in unnecessary tussle. Both Mutharika and Mwanawasa were
handpicked by their predecessors but turned up against them.
Kenya's retired Daniel Moi nearly suffered the wrath of the current regime,
which threatened to strip him of his benefits because of continuously
engaging in local politics. However, he seems to have learnt better, though
once in a while he throws in a salvo at the ruling regime of Mwai Kibaki.
In June 2005, a number of retired African leaders came together in Bamako
Mali to form the African Statesmen Initiative. The Initiative seeks to promote
peace at the same time redefining the role of retired heads of state. Most of
the retired heads in the initiative left the reigns of power in democratic
transitions.
In January 2006, over 15 retired African heads formed the Africa Forum, a
body to offer advisory role to the continent. Led by former South African
leader, Nelson Mandela the forum includes respected former leaders such as
Jerry Rawlings (Ghana) and Quett Masire (Botswana).
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni seemed set to join this crop of leaders at
one time. However, current events in Uganda indicate that Museveni may not
reach that pinnacle. Instead, he has joined a decreasing crop of leaders who
seek to stick to the leadership and might end up like Hissen Habre (Chad),
Charles Taylor (Liberia) and Mengistu Haille Mariam (Ethiopia)– disgraced
and with no role in the world forum.
For the time being, it is "forward ever, backwards never" as Kaunda would
sing, for African leaders who have realised that there is life after State
House.
Caleb Muchungu, a Kenyan journalist, works as a communications officer in
Blantyre, Malawi. E-mail: [email protected]