‘No president has honoured us,’ former freedom fighters cry out as Zambia marks independence

Chapter chairperson of Zambia Association of Freedom Fighters in Kitwe, John Waluka, has claimed that failure to honour independence heroes for a record 59 years was “shameful”.

Waluka made the remarks during the commemoration of 59th Independence Day on Tuesday in Kitwe, saying that independence was meaningless because of failure by all the seven Presidents to look after the former freedom fighters in the country.

“This freedom you are enjoying came at a great price, people died, got jailed for the country to attain self-rule but no President has honoured us,” he observed.

Waluka claimed that most of the former freedom fighters died in poverty and homelessness while in other countries like Zimbabwe and South Africa they were dying in dignity.

He urged the current generation to preserve the peace and unity the country was enjoying.

Kitwe District Commissioner, Lawrence Mwanza, said the government was committed to ensure equal distribution of national resources to reduce poverty.

Kitwe Mayor, Mpasa Mwaya, acknowledged the contributions of fallen heroes who fought for independence struggle.

This year’s theme is “Accelerating National Development through Equitable Distribution of Resource.”

WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.