LUSAKA, June 6 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) on Thursday said it will honor Zambia's former President Kenneth Kaunda over his contribution to Africa's independence struggle.
Last month, the Zambian government expressed concern that Kaunda was the only African leader who fought for the liberation of the continent but has not been honored by the AU through a statue at its headquarter in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
AU Commission Chairperson Mousa Faki Mahamat said the role that the 95-year-old Kaunda played was never in dispute and that Africa will remain grateful.
Faki said when he received letters of credence from Zambia's new Permanent Representative at the AU Emmanuel Mwamba that he has directed technical staff at the continental body to correct the situation regarding Kaunda's absence in the narrative of the founding fathers of the Organization of African Union (OAU), the forerunner to the AU, according to a release.
Other initiatives to recognize Kaunda should be supported, he said.
Mwamba, on his part, requested that the AU recognize and honor Kaunda for his role as a founding member of the OAU and his role in the liberation of the southern African region.
