WINDHOEK – The former Uhland Street will this morning be closed off for the renaming ceremony of the street to Dr Kenneth David Kaunda Street, in honour of the former president of Zambia whose contribution to the fight against apartheid colonial South Africa and liberation movements in Southern Africa in general is well-known.
“We wish to inform the residents of Klein Windhoek, especially those in Uhland Street, that the renaming ceremony will take place on the 4th November 2013, between 08h00 and 13h00. During that time, the road in question will be closed to the public,” announced the Windhoek Municipality. It will be the second, but longest street, to be named after Kaunda, who has a shorter street in his name at Freedom Square in Katutura.
It was under Kaunda’s presidency that Zambia became the second home to many exiled Namibians, as well as freedom fighters from other countries seeking refuge and moral support to fight the South African apartheid regime. It is said that at one point people of national liberation movements in Southern Africa accounted for 2 percent of Zambia’s total population. These included Swapo and South Africa’s ANC.
Such support attracted the wrath of the apartheid colonial regime that implemented punitive warfare measures as well as non-warfare measures at the expense of ordinary Zambian people.
By Staff Reporter