Kaunda honoured with 2012 Mahatma Gandhi International Award

Kaunda honoured with 2012 Mahatma Gandhi International Award

http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/c08510804cc5ba0689278938ed0e64e0/Kaund...

South African Broadcasting Corporation

The Gandhi Development Trust has honoured former Zambian President, Kenneth Kaunda with the 2012 Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Peace and Reconciliation. The award ceremony was held in Durban last night and the 88 year old was lauded for his continuous work in building peace in Africa.

"I wish in this regard to mention that during the difficult years of colonialism in my country my colleagues and I who were involved in the freedom struggle remained faithful to the Gandhian teachings," said Kaunda.

In addition, South Africa's liberation stalwarts were honoured with the Mahatma Gandhi Satyagraha Award. Among them were, Reverend Susan Britton, Mewa Ramgobin, Justice Zak Yacoob and Denis Goldberg.

"I've not wanted high political office, I was assured that I could have it if I wanted it but I wasn't in the struggle for my benefit, I was in the struggle for equality, for humanity," said Rivonia trialist Goldberg

The first president of the ANC John Dube and Black Consciousness activist Steve Biko were also honoured. Steve Biko's son Samora Biko sauid, "As Biko himself prophetically said: it is better to die for an idea that will live than to live for an idea that will die and tonight as we remember the contributions of Kaunda, Biko, Gandhi and so many other freedom fighters, the truth of his words ring true."