Mandela Receives Hero’s Welcome on Visit to Zambia
Nelson R. Mandela received a hero’s welcome today as he set foot on foreign soil for the first time in 28 years.
The black nationalist leader embraced exiled members of his African National Congress and seven African presidents in an emotional ceremony on the Tarmac at the Lusaka airport.
President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia, whose Southern African nation has hosted the ANC’s exile headquarters for almost two decades, was the first to greet Mandela and his wife, Winnie.
To drumbeats, Mandela was draped with garlands of red and white flowers by the children of ANC exiles.
In his six-day visit, Mandela will meet with African and Commonwealth leaders, as well as with exiled ANC leaders from the organization’s 35-member national executive committee and military wing.
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