Mainza Chona

Mainza Chona - Zambian Politician, Birthday and Personal Life

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Mainza Chona's Personal Details

Mainza Chona was a Zambian politician and diplomat who served as the Vice President of Zambia, and was also the Prime Minister of Zambia twice

InformationDetail
BirthdayJanuary 21, 1930
Died onDecember 11, 2001
NationalityZambian
FamousLeaders, Political Leaders, Prime Ministers, Diplomats, Zambian Politician
Universities
  • Munali Secondary School
Birth PlaceMonze
GenderMale
Sun SignAquarius
Born inMonze
Famous asZambian Politician
Died at Age71

Mainza Chona's photo

Who is Mainza Chona?

Mainza Chona was a Zambian politician and diplomat who served as the Vice President of Zambia, was and also the Prime Minister of Zambia twice. Born in Nampeyo, he was a bright child and received a scholarship from the British colonial government to study law in England. After completing his studies, he undertook a proactive role in political activities under the guidance of Kenneth Kaunda soon after his return to Northern Rhodesia. He became the first President of the United National Independence Party (UNIP), the party that paved the way to Zambia’s independence. Although he later stepped down from his post for Kaunda, he played a key role in Zambia's development which is evident by the number of government positions he held. Subsequently, he was appointed the Vice President of Zambia and later became the first Prime Minister of the country in the cabinet of Kaunda. He also served as an Ambassador to the United States of America, the People’s Republic of China, and France

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Childhood & Early Life

Mainza Mathias Chona was born as Sikaye Chingula Namukamba on January 21, 1930, at Nampeyo, near Monze, Northern Rhodesia, to Hameja Chilala, and Nhandu—one of his father's five wives.

He studied at the Chona out-school in Nampeyo, and at Chikuni. In 1951, he completed his secondary education at Munali Secondary School in Lusaka and then worked as an interpreter at the High Court in Livingstone.

He wanted to become a lawyer and in 1995 he secured a scholarship to study at Gray's Inn, London. In 1958, he was called to the bar and while practicing in England, he met other African nationalists, including Harry Nkumbula and Kenneth Kaunda.

Career

In 1958, he returned to Northern Rhodesia and learned that the White-dominated Central African Federation (CAF) had taken over the state despite protests from the Black population through the African National Congress (ANC), led by Nkumbula and Kaunda.

In October 1958, Kaunda formed the Zambia African National Congress (ZANC). Due to the party’s militancy and unwillingness to compromise with white liberals, Kaunda along with several other leaders was detained by the CAF authorities, and the party was banned in March 1959.

In October 1959, Chona became the first President of the United National Independence Party (UNIP), the successor to ZANC. In January 1960, when Kaunda was released from prison, Chona stepped down from his post for him.

Mainza Chona was appointed the deputy president of UNIP by Kaunda, but he had to leave Northern Rhodesia to avoid charges of sedition brought by the CAF authorities who were now getting increasingly frustrated with these political developments. For a year, he remained in London and served as UNIP's overseas representative.

In December 1960, he also served as a UNIP delegate to the Federal Review Conference in London, returning home in February 1961. Later that year, he was elected the National Secretary of UNIP, a post he held for eight years.

In January 1964, Kenneth Kaunda formed Northern Rhodesia's first Black cabinet and appointed Mainza Chona as the Minister of Justice in UNIP's pre-independence government.

In October 1964, when Zambia achieved independence, Mainza Chona became the Minister of Home Affairs. Between 1966 and 1969, he held at least five different ministerial appointments, including minister without portfolio.

In 1969, he was appointed as Zambia’s ambassador to the United States. The following year, upon his return to Zambia, he was appointed as the country's Vice-President.

He contributed to Zambia's constitutional development by introducing the famous Chona Commission. It was set up under his chairmanship in February 1972 to make suggestions for the constitution of a 'one-party participatory democracy’.

In December 1972, the Second Republic was inaugurated and the following year, the National Assembly approved the new constitution in August 1973.

From 1973 to 1975, he served as the Prime Minister of Zambia, under the presidential rule of Kaunda. Then, he became the Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney-General for a while before returning as the Prime Minister for a second time from 1977 to 1978.

In 1978, he became the Secretary-General of UNIP and remained in that position until February 1981. After being removed from UNIP's Central Committee, Chona returned to private legal practice. In 1984, he was sent to Beijing, where he spent five years in exile.

At the end of his term in China in 1989, he was transferred to Paris, where he served as an ambassador till 1992. After eventually returning to Zambia, he again entered private legal practice.

Major Works

He contributed greatly to the organization of UNIP and to Zambia's struggle for independence. He was widely respected in Zambia as a good administrator and as Kaunda's loyal lieutenant.

Personal Life & Legacy

On May 24, 1953, he married Yolanta Chimbamu Mainza and the couple had seven children together.

He died on December 11, 2001, while undergoing dialysis at Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, and was later buried in Monze, Zambia.

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Mainza Chona biography timelines

  • // 21st Jan 1930
    Mainza Mathias Chona was born as Sikaye Chingula Namukamba on January 21, 1930, at Nampeyo, near Monze, Northern Rhodesia, to Hameja Chilala, and Nhandu—one of his father's five wives.
  • // 1951
    He studied at the Chona out-school in Nampeyo, and at Chikuni. In 1951, he completed his secondary education at Munali Secondary School in Lusaka and then worked as an interpreter at the High Court in Livingstone.
  • // 24th May 1953
    On May 24, 1953, he married Yolanta Chimbamu Mainza and the couple had seven children together.
  • // 1958 To 1995
    He wanted to become a lawyer and in 1995 he secured a scholarship to study at Gray's Inn, London. In 1958, he was called to the bar and while practicing in England, he met other African nationalists, including Harry Nkumbula and Kenneth Kaunda.
  • // 1958
    In 1958, he returned to Northern Rhodesia and learned that the White-dominated Central African Federation (CAF) had taken over the state despite protests from the Black population through the African National Congress (ANC), led by Nkumbula and Kaunda.
  • // Oct 1958 To Mar 1959
    In October 1958, Kaunda formed the Zambia African National Congress (ZANC). Due to the party’s militancy and unwillingness to compromise with white liberals, Kaunda along with several other leaders was detained by the CAF authorities, and the party was banned in March 1959.
  • // Oct 1959 To Jan 1960
    In October 1959, Chona became the first President of the United National Independence Party (UNIP), the successor to ZANC. In January 1960, when Kaunda was released from prison, Chona stepped down from his post for him.
  • // Dec 1960 To Feb 1961
    In December 1960, he also served as a UNIP delegate to the Federal Review Conference in London, returning home in February 1961. Later that year, he was elected the National Secretary of UNIP, a post he held for eight years.
  • // 1964 To 1969
    In October 1964, when Zambia achieved independence, Mainza Chona became the Minister of Home Affairs. Between 1966 and 1969, he held at least five different ministerial appointments, including minister without portfolio.
  • // Jan 1964
    In January 1964, Kenneth Kaunda formed Northern Rhodesia's first Black cabinet and appointed Mainza Chona as the Minister of Justice in UNIP's pre-independence government.
  • // 1969
    In 1969, he was appointed as Zambia’s ambassador to the United States. The following year, upon his return to Zambia, he was appointed as the country's Vice-President.
  • // Feb 1972
    He contributed to Zambia's constitutional development by introducing the famous Chona Commission. It was set up under his chairmanship in February 1972 to make suggestions for the constitution of a 'one-party participatory democracy’.
  • // Dec 1972 To Aug 1973
    In December 1972, the Second Republic was inaugurated and the following year, the National Assembly approved the new constitution in August 1973.
  • // 1973 To 1978
    From 1973 to 1975, he served as the Prime Minister of Zambia, under the presidential rule of Kaunda. Then, he became the Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney-General for a while before returning as the Prime Minister for a second time from 1977 to 1978.
  • // 1978 To 1984
    In 1978, he became the Secretary-General of UNIP and remained in that position until February 1981. After being removed from UNIP's Central Committee, Chona returned to private legal practice. In 1984, he was sent to Beijing, where he spent five years in exile.
  • // 1989 To 1992
    At the end of his term in China in 1989, he was transferred to Paris, where he served as an ambassador till 1992. After eventually returning to Zambia, he again entered private legal practice.
  • // 11th Dec 2001
    He died on December 11, 2001, while undergoing dialysis at Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, and was later buried in Monze, Zambia.

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Mainza Chona's FAQ

  • What is Mainza Chona birthday?

    Mainza Chona was born at 1930-01-21

  • When was Mainza Chona died?

    Mainza Chona was died at 2001-12-11

  • Where was Mainza Chona died?

    Mainza Chona was died in Johannesburg

  • Which age was Mainza Chona died?

    Mainza Chona was died at age 71

  • Where is Mainza Chona's birth place?

    Mainza Chona was born in Monze

  • What is Mainza Chona nationalities?

    Mainza Chona's nationalities is Zambian

  • What was Mainza Chona universities?

    Mainza Chona studied at Munali Secondary School

  • What is Mainza Chona's sun sign?

    Mainza Chona is Aquarius

  • How famous is Mainza Chona?

    Mainza Chona is famouse as Zambian Politician