Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari on Thursday met veteran Zambian leader Kenneth Kaunda, who sought India’s help in combating the HIV/AIDS menace in Africa.
Zambia’s first President Kaunda, who drew inspiration from Indian freedom struggle and particularly Mahatma Gandhi praised Indian democracy as a great success and recalled his association with India fondly. The 86-year-old Zambian leader said, Southern Africa is bearing the heaviest brunt as a result of the AIDS pandemic and India has made significant advances in drugs, which can fight the pandemic effectively and in a cost-effective manner.
Over 22 million people are inflicted with the killer virus in sub-Saharan Africa. Promising all help, Mr Ansari described Kaunda as a great friend of India and emphasised the commonality of approach of both the nations on a number of issues.
During the meeting with Mr Ansari, who is in Lusaka on a three-day official visit, Kaunda fondly remembered former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as a great human being. Kaunda said he greatly valued her contribution and advice on many intricate issues that affected humanity, including the question of apartheid in South Africa.
Acknowledging that Zambia has several Indian investments, which are contributing to the country’s effort to attain sustainable economic and social development, the African veteran said, Indian investors should work with Zambian entrepreneurs to engage in value addition by processing the raw materials available in the continent. Kaunda also referred to the role played by the two countries in the NAM, Commonwealth, United Nations and Group of 77.
[All India Radio]
KK should restrain from being in the limelight. What sort of leader is this. My restect has gone now for good. I am busy shopping . Thanks
I am glad KK has held up the initiative to tackle AIDS.
Our current leaders are such nut cases, they don’t see beyond 50 yards ahead of them.
Of course this Indian will be happy with KK! He helped them to prop up snall companies like TATA by providing them ready market in Eastern and Southern Africa. Now TATA is a major companies that has bought Land Rover. What has the Indians done? Nothing but to come back for more! This man is here because of the Copperbelt and to make sure government does not bow to the pressure mounted by the people to raise taxes. Shame on our leaders!
On this score KK was great and Indians in particular loved KK so much. He drew inspiration from one of their own people and lived up to it. Give credit where it is due, we benefited a lot from some of the excellent Indian teachers, doctors who came to Zambia under KK. Some of them were simply great professionals though bogus ones started to emerge later. Anyway that was life.
Good Evening
I like that photo. KK’s smile inspires me more than RB’s – maybe its because I grew up with it. Anyhow, I do not wish to go deep into the given context of democracy but the old man definately deserves maximum respect for investing his remaining strength and energy in continued efforts to reduce suffering in Africa. Of course we still have a long way to go before all is well, but it is encouraging to see that the forerunners are still around and supporting us.
Yes this is what our founding father of the nation should be involved in . And not cheap politics of the day.His done is part already.He should not lower himself by enganging in modern Zambian politics of insults.He should concentrate on solving Africa’s problems and not wanting to return to the presidence of Zambia a country he ruled for 27 years. Emulate Mandela please.You will always be respected.
KK for life.
Watching for thievin I’m cautious it’s like I’m barely breathin
I’m addicted to currency in this life I lead
#4 Stop hallucinating. These were economic refugees like yourself. There are Zambian teachers, doctors, lecturers, nurses in countries like Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Britain not because Zambia is being benevolent to these countries but because Zambians need well paying jobs. And by the way you and a lot of other Zambians who are over their heads with this Indian’s visit please go to Manoramaonline.com and see what the Indian journalists accompanying their Vice President think of Zambia. For staters your Lusaka Airport is described as ‘Cattle Class’ i.e kraal.
#1 Mushota
You are a lost soul.
#1 and #4 you don’t understand the effect Super Ken has on world politics,thats why we need him in helping resolving issues in the sub-region as well as the world,high powered delegations visit him and seek his advice on issues and he has direct contacts to all world leaders and he’s very highly respected,currently he is a visiting lecturer at a prestigious university in the US i don’t think FJTshortie) has been awarded such respect, #6 KK ‘s home is Zambia and only a fool wants to put out a neighbours fire while his house burns.. KK wamu yayayaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!
This is very disrespectfull. Why the indian VIP did not meet FJT ?. He was president for 10 lovely yrs and can not be buried alive. Viva chiluba.
# 12 Mule you are lost. How many foreign leaders active or retired, have come to Zambia and met with Chiluba? May be Bakili Muluzi.
damn # 1 wtf are ya talking I dont even get da reason why ya have blogged…ya just wating ya energy for nuffin…ya should learn tew give credit where its due…I bet ya dont even knoe yaself do ya homework….KK for Life we gatta thank God we gat a leader like KK respect should be granted tew him no questions asked period.
If the elder statesman from Zambia wants to use his influence for the greater good, then let him. We all need a purpose in life; a reason to get up in the morning. After he left the White House, former US President Jimmy Carter continued to be involved not only in domestic issues, but foreign ones as well. He even won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, a mere twenty- two years after he left the White House.These former presidents still have a lot to teach us! And #9, it’s a shame that some Indian journalists would be so insulting as to call the Lusaka airport ” cattle class”. It’s not as if their country is ” top shelf”. People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones ! The Lusaka airport may not be modern, but it’s clean.