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Dag Hammarskjöld Commemorative Week 2006 Programme

Dag Hammarskjöld died in a plane crash in 1961.	Dr. Kenneth Kaunda to speak on Dag Hammarskjöld’s legacy

The Africa University campus will once again be the focal
point for the Zimbabwe-based commemoration of the life
and work of former UN Secretary General, Dag
Hammarskjöld, who served as the second secretary-general
of the United Nations from 1953-61. Hammarskjöld, an
international peacemaker of great moral authority and
sensitivity, died in September 1961. Hammarskjöld was killed
in a plane crash near Ndola, Zambia while on a peace mission
to Katanga in the Congo. He was posthumously awarded
the Nobel Peace Prize for 1961.

This year’s commemoration—featuring a UN Model
Debate, seminars, workshops and various cultural
performances—is scheduled to take place from 9-13 October.
The University hosted a very successful inaugural Dag
Hammarskjöld commemoration on campus last September
and is now working with the Embassy of Sweden on
developing the commemoration as an annual event that
focuses attention on issues of gender, peace, leadership
and development in Africa. This year, organizers are
planning a much-expanded programme which will allow for
greater participation from the wider community.

A number ofdistinguished African leaders and scholars are taking
part in the commemorative events.
The Hon. Oppah Muchinguri, Minister of Women’s
Affairs, Gender and Community Development, will officially
open the Dag Hammarskjöld Commemorative Week 2006 at
10 a.m. on Monday, 9 October and the Swedish Ambassador

to Zimbabwe, H.E. Sten Rylander, will launch of an exhibition
on Dag Hammarskjöld at 2 p.m.
The organisers have invited the President of Zimbabwe,
His Excellency Robert Gabriel Mugabe to give an address
on the topic, “Reflections on Building Bridges for Peace
and Development in Zimbabwe and Africa”. They are
awaiting confirmation of his participation.

On Tuesday, 10 October at 10 a.m., the Dr. Kenneth
Kaunda, the first President of the Republic of Zambia will
speak on “The Legacy of Dag Hammarskjöld and the
Search for Peace and Development in Africa” alongside
co-presenter Prof. Walter Kamba, holder of the Herbert
Chitepo/UNESCO Chair in Human Rights, Peace and
Governance and a member of the Advisory Board of
Trustees of Africa University’s Institute of Peace,
Leadership and Governance.

Prof. Margaret Vogt, Director of the Cabinet of the
African Union, has confirmed her participation in the
seminars that are scheduled for Thursday, 12 October.
Throughout the week, various drama, music and poetry
performances are scheduled. The organizers expect
significant community interest in both the drama and the
UN Model Debate so these have been scheduled for venues
in the Mutare city centre.

The annual Gender Week celebrations will run
concurrently with the Dag Hammarskjöld commemoration,
making for a very busy and exciting period on campus.