Hon members, this theme could not have been more befitting and appropriate. On 18 of June 2021, the DA's Federal Leader and Leader of the Official Opposition in Parliament hon. John Steenhuisen released a media statement upon receiving the sad news, and I quote:

The DA extends its heartfelt condolences to the people of Zambia and the Kaunda family on the passing of former President Kenneth Kaunda. Zambia and Africa has lost one of its most influential and respected leaders.

Kenneth Kaunda spent his long life in the dedicated service of his country, first as liberator and then as leader. He was the last of a generation that spearheaded the fight for a postcolonial Africa in the mid to late 20th century showing principled solidarity with his Southern African neighbours in their own struggles.

Later in life, his campaigning for HIV testing and treatment did much to counter the stigma of the virus and encourage people to know their status and seek treatment. Kenneth Kaunda leaves behind a significant legacy and an important contribution to the freedom of Zambians.

May he rest in peace, and may the people of Zambia find comfort in their time of grieving.

Hon members, it was a spring of 1989 in Alice and it still felt like the middle of winter. The wheels of the liberation struggle were in full unstoppable swing, but so was the repression and brutality of the regime. The late Walter Sisulu has just been released from Robben Island.

A young man, in his late teens has once again attracted the attention of the Internal Security Branch. At the time Congress of South African Students was banned, so students organised themselves based on their geographicallocations.

The young man, who like many others of his age thought he was the best thing ever to occur under the sun, he was a tough as Tarzan, he was as brave as Superman and intelligent as Batman. Despite all his would be attributes, geography was not his strongest point. He was the secretary of Alice Students Congress and represented students in the local unit of the United Democratic Front. Like all students, money was always difficult to come by. The United Democratic Front, UDF Irritated by the student's endless requests for funding, gave

Alice Students Congress, Asco T-shirts of Isithwalandwe that had just been released to sell and raise funds forthemselves.

With only a few T-shirts sold, the Internal Security Branch paid him a visit looking for the rest of the consignment. During torture on the verge of spilling the beans, the young man who by his own admission geography was not his strong point, was asked in which country was the ANC's headquarters. He boldly replied Lusaka, much to a big laughter of his captors.

His geography may not have been his strong point or did not know Lusaka was actually in Zambia, but at least he knew that the man with the white handkerchief was Kenneth Kaunda, the President of Lusaka. Like many other frontline states, President Kaunda risked the security of his own people by providing shelter to the banned and exiled ANC. He took this massive risk because he knew, Africa can never be completely free unless South Africa was free.

Hon. members the story of our liberation can never be complete without mentioning the sacrifice and contribution of Kenneth Kaunda and the people of Zambia. It is for this reason, that as the nation we