Background
Dunstan Kamana was born on April 19, 1937, at Mangunza.
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Dunstan Weston Kamana
Edit ProfileEducation
Educated at St Mark’s College, Mapanza, then at Munali Secondary School, Lusaka, from 1953 to 1958.
Career
On joining the government information services he developed his journalistic skill. He was sent to the Zambian High Commission in London as press attache, and then President Kaunda brought him back to Lusaka in January 1965 to be Presidential Press Secretary. He was Assistant Secretary of Defence from September 1965 until July 1966 when he became Director of Information for two years. A close working relationship developed which made Kamana an important influential figure at the Presidential office. This situation widened his friendships all over the worid but nurtured some hostilities at home. Eventually he sought more freedom and became editor-in-chief of the “Times of Zambia”.
His vigorous editorship built up opposition to him in Parliament from MPs who resented his criticism of the system. He was removed as editor in 1972 and appointed general manager of the Dairy Produce Board. Shortly afterwards it was recognised that his talents were better employed in diplomacy again so he was sent to Moscow as ambassador.
Personality
Outstanding journalist, confidant of the President as his adviser on public relations, and a trusted diplomat. An earnest, soul-searching, highly articulate man with a sensitive conscience whose insistence upon wide-ranging selfcriticism in Zambian political life for the sake of preserving high standards resulted in his being silenced as an editor-in-chief. Yet his resilience is such that he is unlikely to stay silent for very long.
