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Zambia’s founding leader Kenneth Kaunda laid to rest at presidential cemetery

  • Some of Kaunda’s relatives tried to block the interment as they had wanted him buried at his farm next to his late wife Betty, with whom he had 10 children
  • Kaunda, who was a hero of the struggle against white rule in southern Africa, died last month at the age of 97

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Former Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda was laid to rest at the country’s presidential burial site on Wednesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Zambia’s founding leader Kenneth Kaunda was laid to rest at the country’s presidential burial site on Wednesday despite an 11th-hour bid by some of his relatives to block the interment.

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Kaunda, who was also a hero of the struggle against white rule in southern Africa, died last month at the age of 97.

Some of his relatives had wanted him buried at his farm next to his late wife Betty, with whom he had 10 children.

But the burial proceeded on Wednesday without incident at Embassy Park, a special cemetery dedicated for the country’s leaders.

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His children paid glowing tribute to Kaunda, portraying him as a fighter and teacher whose attributes should be emulated.

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