ZAMBIA: PRESIDENT KAUNDA'S PRIVATE AIRCRAFT CRASHES BEFORE HIS PRESS CONFERENCE ON LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Record ID: 383616

  • Title: ZAMBIA: PRESIDENT KAUNDA'S PRIVATE AIRCRAFT CRASHES BEFORE HIS PRESS CONFERENCE ON LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
  • Date: 28th August 1969
  • Summary: SECURITY TRUCK RACES ACROSS AIRFIELD; SHOTS OF SECURITY VEHICLES; WRECKAGE OF AIRCRAFT; PRESIDENT KAUNDA ADDRESSES CONFERENCE; REPORTERS. Initials PJC/VS/PW/ES Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 12th September 1969 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LUSAKA - ZAMBIA
  • Country: Zambia
  • Reuters ID: LVA58U6XA3HF89Q579NX4IOA2TKB
  • Story Text: PRESIDENT KAUNDA OF ZAMBIA'S PERSONAL AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN FLAMES AT LUSAKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, MINUTES BEFORE HE ADDRESSED A PRESS CONFERENCE TO DISCUSS THE LATEST POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS.

    THE AIRCRAFT, A HAWKER SIDDELEY-748 HAD BEEN IN ZAMBIA TWO YEARS. THE DAY PREVIOUS DR. KAUNDA, HIS WIFE AND THEIR PARTY FLEW BACK TO LUSAKA IN IT AFTER A WEEKEND AT KIWE ON THE COPPERBELT.

    THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A ROUTINE TESTING FLIGHT. THREE WERE KILLED, FLYING OFFICER B. SHANNON, 13-YEAR-OLD MARK CATHCART AND MR KASIMBA. FLIGHT LIEUT. JOHN CULHERNE, THE CAPTAIN OF THE AIRCRAFT, WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL SERIOUSLY INJURED.

    THE WHOLE AREA WAS CORDONED OFF AND HEAVILY GUARDED. NO PRESS WERE ALLOWED NEAR.

    AT THE CONFERENCE PRESIDENT KAUNDA TOLD REPORTERS THAT HE HAS ASSUMED EMERGENCY POWERS OVER THE RULING PARTY. THIS CAME WITHIN HOURS OF THE RESIGNATION OF VICE-PRESIDENT SIMON KAPWEPWE (WHO HAS SINCE WITHDRAWN HIS RESIGNATION). THE PRESIDENT DID NOT REFER TO THE RESIGNATION.

    THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE UNIP WAS DISSOLVED AND ALL POSTS ABOLISHED. AN INTERIM NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO TAKE CHARGE OF THE AFFAIRS OF THE PARTY WAS SUBSTITUTED. HE ALSO ANNOUNCED THE APPOINTMENT OF A COMMISSION TO REVIEW THE UNIP CONSTITUTION WITH A VIEW TO DRAFTING A NEW ONE.

    HE WARNED THAT DIVISIVE FORCES WERE SEEING TO DESTROY THE VERY FABRIC OF THE PARTY AND THE NATION, AND ACCUSED SOME PARTY LEADERS OF FOSTERING SECTIONAL INTERESTS.

    DR. KAUNDA SAID HE WOULD CONTINUE TO HEAD THE PARTY -- BUT AS SECRETARY GENERAL AND NOT AS ITS PRESIDENT -- AND ELECTIONS FOR PARTY OFFICES WOULD BE HELD UNDER THE NEW CONSTITUTION.

    PRESIDENT KAUNDA UNDERLINED THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HIS NEW MOVE BY ADDING THAT IN FUTURE CABINET MINISTERS NEED NOT NECESSARILY BE SELECTED FROM AMONG CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
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