President Kenneth Kaunda, Zambia's founding father, has died at the age of 97

At the age of 97, Kenneth Kaunda, Zambia's founding president and a champion of African nationalism, which led the campaign to eliminate white minority rule across southern Africa, died.

Authorities have designated a period of mourning for the freedom hero that will last for 21 days.

Kaunda will be remembered more for his position as an anti-colonial rebel who stood up to white minority rule in Southern African countries such as Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, than for his leadership of Zambia's copper-based economy.

On Monday, he was brought to the Maina Soko hospital with pneumonia.

"On behalf of the entire nation and on my own behalf, I pray that the entire Kaunda family is comforted as we mourn our first president and true African icon," wrote Edgar Lungu.

Kamarange, Kaunda's son, also announced the statesman's death on Facebook.

Kaunda began his career as a schoolteacher before rising to become a fiery African nationalist, his country's first president, and a staunch supporter of majority government throughout Africa. Kaunda agreed to return Zambia to multi-party politics after losing elections in 1991, even though he later became autocratic and reigned over a one-party state. His admission of defeat is often recognised as catalysing Zambia's transition to multi-party democracy.

"Dear KK, I learnt of your passing with great sadness. You have gone at a time we least expected but we are comforted that you are now with Our Father, God Almighty in heaven. I pray that the Kaunda family is comforted as we mourn a true African icon" wrote Edgar Lungu on twitter.