Ambrose Lwiji Lufuma (born October 26, 1957) is a

Zambian Zambia (), officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central, Southern and East Africa, although it is typically referred to as being in Southern Africa at its most central point. Its neighbours are th ...

politician, businessman, and economist serving as Zambia's Minister of Defense.

Early life

Ambrose was born to Raphael Lufuma and Chisengo in 1957, in Kawanda Village of

Kabompo Kabompo is a town in north-western Zambia, lying on the Kabompo River with a population over 88,000 people. It is surrounded by teak forest and is home to a Roman Catholic Mission (Christian), mission. Its most significant activity is the producti ...

. He attended Kawanda Primary School. In 1972, he was transferred to Mpima Seminary for his high school education.

Career

In 1976, he joined the

Zambia National Service The Zambia National Service, abbreviated ZNS, is part of the Zambian Defence Force whose primary objective is to train Zambian citizens in agriculture and craft skillsit was formed in 1963 as a Army, Land Army before it was renamed to Zambia Nation ...

and underwent military training after graduating from high school. He, later was selected to go the

University of Zambia The University of Zambia (UNZA) is a public university located in Lusaka, Zambia. It is Zambia's largest and oldest learning institution. The university was established in 1965 and officially opened to the public on 12 July 1966. The language of ...

; there he studied Economics.

Political career

In the 90s, Ambrose became friends with UPND founder,

Anderson Mazoka Anderson K. Mazoka (22 March 1943 – 24 May 2006) was a Zambian politician and President of the United Party for National Development (UPND), a leading opposition party. Life Mazoka was born in Monze. He attended Union College, where he g ...

and soon joined his political party. He contested in the

2011 File:2011 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: a protester partaking in Occupy Wall Street heralds the beginning of the Occupy movement; protests against Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, who was killed that October; a young man celebrate ...

and

2016 Zambian general election General elections were held in Zambia on 11 August 2016 to elect the President and National Assembly. A constitutional referendum was held alongside the elections, with proposals to amend the bill of rights and Article 79. President Edgar Lungu ...

Member of Parliament and he emerged victorious in both. Ambrose contested in the

2021 Zambian general election General elections were held in Zambia on 12 August 2021 to elect the President, National Assembly, mayors, council chairs and councillors. Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development was elected president, defeating incumbent ...

, as an MP for

, again, he emerged victorious. A few weeks later, he was appointed as the Minister of Defense by President Hichilema.

Parliamentary history

Personal life

Ambrose married Sombo Chinyama, together, they have 5 children.

References

{{Reflist Living people 1957 births Members of the National Assembly of Zambia 21st-century Zambian politicians United Party for National Development politicians University of Zambia alumni Defence Ministers of Zambia