Zambia's former President Kenneth Kaunda has died aged 97. The founding father of the state died at a hospital in Lusaka, Zambia as he was being treated for pneumonia.
Kaunda ruled Zambia from 1964, when the Southern African nation won its independence from Britain, until 1991, and afterwards became one of the most committed activists against HIV/AIDS in Africa.
“On behalf of the entire nation and on my own behalf, I pray that the entire Kaunda family is comforted as we mourn our first president and true African icon,” President Edgar Lungu said in a message on his Facebook page.
Authorities declared 21 days of mourning for the liberation hero.
