Kenneth Kaunda served as the first President of independent Zambia (1964-1991). He played a leading role in Zambia’s independence movement. During his presidency, Kaunda (nicknamed KK), often served as a buffer between the states in southern Africa that were predominately white and the independent states in the north that were predominately black. In an effort to move the territory towards independence from the British rule, he made a bold move by breaking away from the African National Congress (ANC). After his departure, he founded the Zambian African National Congress (ZANC). The ZANC’s mission was to promote the rights of black people, but after the upsurge of civil disobedience, the party was banned. After his departure from the African National Congress and banning of the ZANC, Kaunda became the head of the United National Independence Party. A charismatic-leader, Kaunda, as the President of Zambia, was initially revered by the citizens, but overtime, these very citizens became disenchanted by his policies. After serving as the president for more than two decades, he voluntarily stepped down from office.