Veteran Zambian leader seeks India's help to combat HIV/AIDS

Anand Mishra

Lusaka, Jan 7 (PTI) India's Vice President Hamid
Ansari on Thursday met veteran Zambian leader Kenneth Kaunda,
who praised Indian democracy as "a great success", as he
sought the country's help to combat the HIV/AIDS menace in
Africa.

Zambia's first President Kaunda, who drew inspiration
from Indian freedom struggle and particularly Mahatma Gandhi
to carry out his movement for Zambia’s freedom, on Thursday
met Ansari and recalled his association with India fondly.
Kaunda said India has been a "great success" as far as
its achievements in democracy within its own country or its
contribution internationally goes.
"It’s a great success at home and equally at abroad,"
the 86-year-old Zambian leader said commenting on the
functioning of democracy in India over the last six decades.
During the meeting with Ansari, Kaunda also appealed
to India for assistance in AIDS control in the region.
"Southern Africa is bearing the heaviest brunt as
result of the AIDS pandemic. India has made significant
advances in drugs. I wish to appeal for assistance to us in
this region so that we can fight AIDS pandemic effectively,"
said Kaunda, who runs an NGO to combat the killer virus.
Ansari appreciated the works being done by Kaunda in
areas of HIV/AIDS in Zambia and assured the first Zambian
president that "India on its part would be ready and willing
to assist Zambia in the best of its capabilities."

The veteran Zambian leader runs an organisation
Kenneth Kaunda Children of Africa Foundation which is actively
involved in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Over 22 million
people are inflicted with the killer virus in sub-Saharan
Africa.
The Vice-President underlined that the response to the
HIV/AIDS started from a state of denial and now there is
recognition of its threat to the existence of humanity.
During the meeting with Ansari, who is here on a
three-day official visit, Kaunda fondly remembered former
Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as a "great human being".
The former premier had visited Zambia thrice in various
capacities.
He recalled her visit to Lusaka in the 1970 during the
conference of Non-Aligned Movement. Kaunda said he greatly
valued her contribution and advice on many intricate issues
that affected humanity, including the question of apartheid in
South Africa.
Recalling his visit to India as a freedom fighter in
1957, the Zambian leader said Gandhi’s message of passive
resistance or non violence even in the face of extreme
provocation greatly inspired him to adopt the Gandhian way in
the struggle for Zambia’s independence.
Kaunda had visited India more than ten times beginning
from 1967 during his stay in power from 1964 to 1991.
Kaunda also appealed for "collective efforts aimed at
value addition" in the field of trade and commerce.

Acknowledging that Zambia has several Indian
investments, which are contributing to the country’s effort to
attain sustainable economic and social development, Kaunda
said Indian investors should work with Zambian entrepreneurs
to engage in value addition by processing the raw materials
available here.
Ansari described Kaunda as a "great friend of India"
and emphasised the commonality of approach of both the nations
on a number of issues.
Kaunda referred to the role played by the two
countries in the NAM, Commonwealth, United Nations and Group
of 77.
"History will record India’s role in international
relations," he said, referring to the role played by New Delhi
in convening the first Asian-African meeting, known as the
Bandung Conference, in 1955 in Indonesia. PTI AMR
SKT