Mr. Lawrence Katilungu

Citation

“WHEREBY, THE LATE LAWRENCE KATILUNGU WAS PRESIDENT OF THE MINE WORKERS’ UNION OF NORTHERN RHODESIA. HE PLAYED A LEADING ROLE IN SHAPING THE POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY IN THE 1950s AND 60s. HE WAS ONE OF THE NATIONALIST LEADERS FIGHTING FOR INDEPENDENCE. HIS CIVIC LEADERSHIP EARNED HIM THE RESPECT OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WHICH APPOINTED HIM AS A MEMBER OF THE ROYAL MONCKTON COMMISSION ESTABLISHED IN 1960 TO REVIEW THE FEDERATION OF RHODESIA AND NYASALAND. HE WORKED DILIGENTLY TO ENSURE THAT THE FINAL REPORT REFLECTED THE STRONG ASPIRATION OF THE AFRICAN PEOPLE TO ATTAIN INDEPENDENCE. HE ESTABLISHED INFLUENTIAL CONTACTS IN LONDON TO HELP IN WRITING THE MINORITY REPORT WHICH BECAME PART OF THE MONCKTON COMMISSION REPORT AS A LEGITIMATE RECOMMENDATION. WHEREBY, DESPITE A STRONG REJECTION OF THE MINORITY REPORT BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, ARGUING THAT IT WAS NOT PART OF THE TERMS OF REFERENCE, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ACCEPTED THE MINORITY REPORT AND SUBSEQUENTLY DECIDED TO BREAK UP THE FEDERATION ON 31ST DECEMBER, 1963. THIS IMMEDIATELY LED TO THE INDEPENDENCE OF MALAWI ON 6TH JULY, 1964 AND ZAMBIA ON 24TH OCTOBER, 1964. HIS PARTICIPATION IN THE STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE IS WORTHY OF SPECIAL RECOGNITION.”

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