Prime Minister of the Republic of Zambia | |
---|---|
Appointer | President of Zambia |
Formation | 25 August 1973 |
First holder | Mainza Chona |
Final holder | Malimba Masheke |
Abolished | 31 August 1991 |
Zambiaportal |
The prime minister of Zambia was the head of government of Zambia. From 1973 to 1975, Mainza Chona was the first person to hold the position following independence from the United Kingdom (Kenneth Kaunda was the only prime minister of Northern Rhodesia in 1964, before it became independent as Zambia).
The position of the prime minister of Zambia was abolished in 1991, in the last months of Kaunda's presidential term. Since then, the President of Zambia serves as both the head of state and the head of government.
When the country was founded as the British colony of Northern Rhodesia separate from British South Africa Company rule in the Rhodesias, the elected Legislative Council was created. At the time, the office of prime minister did not exist, with all executive power being vested in the governor of Northern Rhodesia. However, the leader of the largest elected party on the council was considered as the "unofficial" prime minister. [1] When Northern Rhodesia united with Southern Rhodesia and Nyasaland to form the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, the office of prime minister of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland was created, with Northern Rhodesia's Roy Welensky becoming the second and final holder of the office. Following the breakup of the federation due to the withdrawal of Northern Rhodesia, the office of prime minister was created for the colony. The first and only prime minister of Northern Rhodesia was the United National Independence Party's (UNIP) Kenneth Kaunda after winning the 1964 general election ahead of independence. [2] [3]
Upon independence and the renaming of the country as Zambia, Kaunda became the new president of Zambia after being elected unopposed. [4] [5] The office of prime minister was abolished accordingly. [6] In 1973, following an amendment to the Constitution of Zambia, the office of prime minister was re-established as the titular head of the government but the holder would be subordinate to the Secretary-General of UNIP in governing Zambia. [7] This was because the Central Committee of UNIP had precedence over the Parliament of Zambia under the Constitution. [8] President Kaunda appointed his former vice-president, Mainza Chona, as prime minister. [9] In 1975, Chona resigned and was replaced by Elijah Mudenda. [10] In 1977, Chona became prime minister again for a year before the role was taken over by Daniel Lisulo. [11] Kebby Musokotwane took the role over from Nalumino Mundia in 1985, becoming the youngest prime minister and also the first that was not a member of UNIP's Central Committee. [8] He was removed in 1989 and given an overseas diplomatic post due to President Kaunda believing he was aiming to become the next president. [12]
In 1991, the office was abolished again following a new constitution being created to allow for multi-party democratic elections following UNIP negotiations with the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD). [12] The powers the prime minister had were subsumed back into the office of president. [13] The constitution allowed for the final prime minister, Malimba Masheke, to remain in office until the 1991 Zambian general election. [13] According to Masheke, at the time of abolition the prime minister was being paid less than his private secretary. [14]
Political parties
No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Election | Term of office | Political party | Head of state | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||||
Prime Minister of Northern Rhodesia | ||||||||
1 | Kenneth Kaunda (1924–2021) | 1968 | 22 January 1964 | 24 October 1964 | 276 days | UNIP | Elizabeth II | |
Prime Ministers of the Republic of Zambia | ||||||||
Post abolished (24 October 1964 – 25 August 1973) | Kenneth Kaunda | |||||||
1 | Mainza Chona (1930–2001) | — | 25 August 1973 | 27 May 1975 | 1 year, 275 days | UNIP | ||
2 | Elijah Mudenda (1927–2008) | 1973 | 27 May 1975 | 20 July 1977 | 2 years, 54 days | UNIP | ||
(1) | Mainza Chona (1930–2001) | — | 20 July 1977 | 15 June 1978 | 330 days | UNIP | ||
3 | Daniel Lisulo (1930–2000) | 1978 | 15 June 1978 | 18 February 1981 | 2 years, 248 days | UNIP | ||
4 | Nalumino Mundia (1927–1988) | 1983 | 18 February 1981 | 24 April 1985 | 4 years, 65 days | UNIP | ||
5 | Kebby Musokotwane (1946–1996) | 1988 | 24 April 1985 | 15 March 1989 | 3 years, 325 days | UNIP | ||
6 | Malimba Masheke (born 1941) | — | 15 March 1989 | 31 August 1991 | 2 years, 169 days | UNIP | ||
Post abolished (31 August 1991 – present) |
Kenneth Kaunda, also known as KK, was a Zambian politician who served as the first president of Zambia from 1964 to 1991. He was at the forefront of the struggle for independence from British rule. Dissatisfied with Harry Nkumbula's leadership of the Northern Rhodesian African National Congress, he broke away and founded the Zambian African National Congress, later becoming the head of the socialist United National Independence Party (UNIP).
The history of Zambia experienced many stages from colonisation to independence from Britain on 24 October 1964. Northern Rhodesia became a British sphere of influence in the present-day region of Zambia in 1888, and was officially proclaimed a British protectorate in 1924. After many years of suggested mergers, Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia, and Nyasaland were merged into the British Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.
The politics of Zambia takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the president of Zambia is head of state, head of government and leader of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government, while legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. Formerly Northern Rhodesia, Zambia became a republic immediately upon attaining independence in October 1964.
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Elijah Haatuakali Kaiba Mudenda was a Zambian politician. He served as the 2nd Prime Minister of Zambia from 27 May 1975 to 20 July 1977.
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General elections were held in Northern Rhodesia on 30 October 1962, with by-elections for several seats held on 10 December. Although the United Federal Party won the most seats in the Legislative Council, and Northern Rhodesian African National Congress leader Harry Nkumbula had made a secret electoral pact with the UFP, Nkumbula decided to form a government with the United National Independence Party.
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