Zambia's founding father and former President Kenneth Kaunda has been admitted to a Lusaka hospital, his office said Monday.

In this photo taken on August 17, 2010 Former and first Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda delivers a speech during the closing ceremony of the 30th Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit in Windhoek, Namibia. (File photo: AFP)

It said in a statement that Kaunda, 97, "has been unwell and was admitted in hospital at Maina Soko Medical Centre," but gave no further details.

Kaunda ruled Zambia for 27 years from independence in 1964.