Kenneth Kaunda Day in Zambia
Kenneth Kaunda Day is a Zambian public holiday on April 28, commemorating the birthday of the country’s first Republican president. It was established by statutory instrument and has been observed annually since 2022.[1]
Legal status and date
The Public Holidays (Declaration) Notice, 2021, made under the Public Holidays Act, designates April 28 each year as a public holiday in memory of Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda. The annual observance began in 2022. The Public Holidays Act provides that a public holiday declared under the Act is observed throughout Zambia.[1][2]
The Act also says that when a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is observed as a public holiday. Zambia’s official notice for 2024 illustrates this rule: it listed Sunday, April 28 as Kenneth Kaunda Day and Monday, April 29 as the following public holiday. Government notices describe these designated days as non-working public holidays.[2][3]
Why Zambia commemorates Kaunda
The date is tied directly to Kaunda’s birthday. He was born on April 28, 1924, at Lubwa Mission near Chinsali, then in Northern Rhodesia. He later led the United National Independence Party and became president when Zambia gained independence in 1964, serving until 1991.[1][4]
Kaunda’s place in Zambia’s history gives the holiday its national meaning: it recalls the independence leader who became the country’s first president. He also promoted national cohesion through Zambian Humanism and the slogan “One Zambia, One Nation,” and supported liberation movements in Southern Africa.[4]
Observance and practical plans
The statutory notice sets the reason for the holiday but does not prescribe a particular ceremony, food, or way for families to mark it. Observances may therefore differ between communities. Ask local organisers about events in your area.[1][3]
The government’s designation of the date as a non-working public holiday is useful when planning work or errands. Check directly with the service you need for opening hours. When April 28 falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is observed as a public holiday.[2][3]
Frequently asked questions
When is Kenneth Kaunda Day?
Is Kenneth Kaunda Day a public holiday throughout Zambia?
Are offices, banks, shops, and transport services open?
Government notices designate public holidays as non-working days. Check opening hours with the office, business, or transport operator you plan to use.[3]
Sources and references
Sources used for Kenneth Kaunda Day in Zambia:
- Statutory Instrument No. 72 of 2021: The Public Holidays (Declaration) Notice, 2021- Government of Zambia
- Public Holidays Act, 1964 (Chapter 272)- Government of Zambia; text reproduced by Laws.Africa
- Gazette Notice No. 975 of 2023: Public Holidays in 2024- Government of Zambia, Government Printer
- KAUNDA, KENNETH- Encyclopaedia Africana