Kenneth Kaunda, the founding president of Zambia and the African renowned nationalist, who led battles to end white minority rule across South Africa, has died at the age of 97.
Zambian President Edgar Lungu announced Kaunda's death Thursday evening on his Facebook page. Longo announced that Zambia will have 21 days of national mourning.
Kaunda was hospitalized on Monday and officials later said he was being treated for pneumonia.
Zambia is currently battling a surge in COVID-19 cases and Kaunda has been admitted to the Maina Soko Medical Centre, a military hospital that is a treatment center for the disease in the capital, Lusaka.
Kaunda emerged as a leader in the campaign to end colonial rule for his country, then known as Northern Rhodesia, and was elected the first president of Zambia in 1964.
During his 27-year rule, he provided crucial support to African nationalist armed groups that gained independence to neighboring countries including Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
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