A Chinsali based former pupil of the late first Republican President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda has described his contribution to the education sector during his era as exceptional.

92 year Chinsali senior citizen Mukuka Chifwamba, says Dr. Kaunda played a commendable role in ensuring that all Zambians had the opportunity to access free education in the post-colonial era.

Mr. Chifwamba told ZANIS in an interview in Chinsali today that before independence, access to education was very limited to many Zambians especially those living in rural areas not until he introduced the free education policy.

He charged that despite the many challenges he had faced after assuming the Presidency in 1964, Dr. Kaunda ensured that all Zambians had the opportunity to go to school.

“Although education was very cumbersome due to the great distances to the education facilities and it was also a rare commodity to get into an upper school or a boarding school, Dr. Kaunda made significant strides to provide this service on equal terms for all,” he added.

He further stated that during his time as a teacher at Lubwa Mission in the early 1950s before he joined active politics, he exhibited good qualities of an educationist.

Mr. Chifwamba also mentioned that there is need for the late first Republican President’s legacy to be preserved through recognising his immense contribution to the education sector such as the establishment of the University of Zambia.

Meanwhile, Watson Lombe, another Chinsali senior resident, said the late President regarded education as a meaningful tool towards liberation.

Mr. Lombe stated that this ideology is what prompted him to take up the teaching career which further guided him into active politics.

“Dr. Kaunda started teaching at the age of 17 years old here at Lubwa Mission and this entails how passionate he was about education,” he added.

The Month of April this year, marks the late Dr. Kenneth Kaunda’s centenary birthday celebration themed, “KK @100.”