HONOURING ZAMBIAN PRESIDENTS ON THE DIAMOND JUBILEE INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY
DURING the Golden Jubilee Independence Anniversary (2014) the former Zambian Presidents namely Kenneth David Kaunda, Frederick Titus Jacob Chiluba, Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, and Rupiah Bwezani Banda, including the then incumbent President Michael Chilufya Sata were honoured by placing their portrait images on the reverse of the K50 note.
With the forthcoming Diamond Jubilee Independence Anniversary, I propose that these honours be amplified to appreciate our leaders’ past and present efforts in the peaceful governance of our beloved country.
I propose that a singular portrait of our late founding father Kenneth David Kaunda be permanently placed on the obverse of the K100 note; while the singular portrait of our late second republican President Chiluba for his contribution to the reintroduction of multi-party democracy be also permanently placed on the obverse of the K20 note.
The portraits of the remaining former Presidents namely Mwanawasa, Rupiah Banda, Sata, Edgar Chagwa Lungu, including the incumbent
President Hakainde Hichilema must jointly be placed on the reverse of the K50 note.
Our neighbouring country Malawi has taken a diversity approach of honouring their various leaders by placing their portraits on the obverse of their different currency denominations.
John Chilembwe’s likeness as the embodiment of the struggle against colonial rule, who soon after the outbreak of the First World War, organised an unsuccessful armed uprising against colonial rule; was seen on the obverse of all Malawian Kwacha notes from 1997 until May 2012, when new bank notes were launched; the K500 note still carries his portrait. Since December 2016, the newly introduced K20 note also carries his picture.
The following is the example of diversity displayed on the Malawian bank notes in an effort to proudly honour their leaders:
K20 note: The obverse of the bank note is represented by the portrait of the traditional leader Inkosi Ya Makhosi M’mbelwa II (Lazalo Mkhuzo Jere).
K50 note: The obverse of the bank note is represented by the portrait of the traditional leader Inkosi Ya Makhosi Gomani II (Philip Zitonga Maseka). He was one of the few leaders to have stood up against the establishment of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.
K100 note: The obverse of the bank note is represented by the portrait of James Frederick Sangala. He was a founder and the acting secretary of the Nyasaland African Congress (NAC) which was later renamed the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), which sought to give a unified voice to the local associations and to press for greater rights for Africans.
K200 note: The obverse of the bank note is represented by the portrait of Rose Lomathinda Chibambo. Rose Chibambo organised Malawian women in their political fight against the British as a political force to be reckoned with alongside their menfolk in the push for independence.
After Malawi gained independence in 1964, Rose Chibambo was the first woman minister in the new cabinet.
K500 note: The obverse of the bank note is represented by the portrait of Reverend John Chilembwe.
K1, 000 note: The obverse of the bank note is represented by the portrait of the first President of Malawi, Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda.
K2, 000 note: The obverse of the bank note is represented by the portrait of Reverend John Chilembwe.
K5, 000 note: The obverse of the bank note is represented by the portrait of the first President of Malawi Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda.
To this effect, if we Zambians go ahead to honoor our past and current leaders following the precedent set by other countries; we shall permanently immortalise our leaders for the contribution they have rendered to our great nation.