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eventREF E-0088570Revised

Event record

Kenneth Kaunda accuses British Foreign Secretary of “kissing” apartheid

Kenneth Kaunda accuses British Foreign Secretary of “kissing” apartheid

Date
24 Jul 1986
Updated
30 Sep 2019
Kenneth Kaunda accuses British Foreign Secretary of “kissing” apartheid

Zambian President, Kenneth Kaunda publicly rebuked Britain's foreign secretary, Geoffrey Howe, accusing him and President Reagan of supporting South Africa’s apartheid government. The attack by Kaunda on Howe and Reagan came at the height of popular unrest across South Africa. Kaunda’s anger was prompted by Reagan’s rejection of stronger United States (US) economic sanctions. Kaunda said; “As a fellow human being, Sir Geoffrey, I must welcome you. But as a messenger of what you have come to do in South Africa, you are not welcome at all." Howe denied the accusation, saying he was trying to end apartheid peacefully rather than through violence. He went on lashing out at Reagan and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, accusing them of conspiring to defend white supremacy in South Africa by resisting international pressure for sanctions.

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How we know this

  1. 01Los Angels Times, (1986), ‘Zambia Lectures Briton on Apartheid’, 25 July, [online], available at www.latimes.com [Accessed: 07 June 2012]
  2. 02Boddy-Evans A. ‘This Day in African History: 24 July’, from About African History. Com, [online], available at www.africanhistory.about.com [Accessed: 07 June 2012]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2012, July 19). Kenneth Kaunda accuses British Foreign Secretary of “kissing” apartheid. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0088570

South African History Online (2012) 'Kenneth Kaunda accuses British Foreign Secretary of “kissing” apartheid', South African History Online, 19 July. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0088570 (Accessed: 8 August 2026).

South African History Online, Kenneth Kaunda accuses British Foreign Secretary of “kissing” apartheid [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0088570, (accessed 8 August 2026).

"Kenneth Kaunda accuses British Foreign Secretary of “kissing” apartheid." South African History Online, 19 July 2012, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0088570. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "Kenneth Kaunda accuses British Foreign Secretary of “kissing” apartheid." South African History Online. July 19, 2012. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0088570.

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