Kenneth Kaunda

I was astonished that the Scotsman did not report the death of ex-president Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia who died last week at the age of 97.

Most of the neighbouring countries in Africa have ordered several days of official mourning for someone described as the lion of Africa.

He ruled Zambia from independence in 1964 for 27 years, and when finally defeated in an election, unlike so many other rulers, accepted the result.

He did, of course, make some mistakes, notably over the adoption of Tanzanian style agriculture, but his Commonwealth enthusiasm endeared him to the Queen and he steered a difficult path with South Africa.

Indeed, on his release Nelson Mandela made his first foreign visit to Zambia to greet his old friend and ally.

I was lucky enough to be invited by him in 1968 when President of the anti-apartheid movement to visit Zambia and I still treasure a wooden carving from that visit.

In 1972 when I was ejected from Ian Smith’s Rhodesia he instantly invited me to dinner at his house, and did so again in 1979 with some of his cabinet when he was rather gloomy about the future of South Africa.

On his last visit to the UK I was able to give him lunch in the House of Lords where he was warmly greeted by so many.

Most important to him was his upbringing on a Scottish mission, where his father was a preacher and he attended school. His passing is the end of an era.

DAVID STEEL (LORD STEEL OF AIKWOOD)

Selkirk