This is a list of famous or notable

Zambia 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 t ...

ns, or people of Zambian descent, or people who have influenced Zambia listed in the following categories, and in no particular order:

Businesspeople

Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (born 15 March 1959) is a Zambian businessman and politician who served as Member of Parliament for Kasama Central from 2009 to 2016. He later served as Vice President of the United Party for National Development. Under the ...

Hakainde Hichilema Hakainde Hichilema (born 4 June 1962) is a Zambian businessman, farmer, and politician who is the seventh and current president of Zambia since 24 August 2021. After having contested five previous elections in 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015 and 20 ...

* Rajan Mahtani *

Sylvia Masebo Sylvia Masebo (born March 7, 1963) is a Zambian entrepreneur, politician, and National Assembly of Zambia representative for Chongwe constituency with the United Party for National Development (UPND). Sylvia Masebo holds a degree in Banking and F ...

* Clever Mpoha * Susan Mulikita * Peter Sakala

Politics

Politicians

Presidents

Kenneth David Kaunda Kenneth David Kaunda (28 April 1924 – 17 June 2021), 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. Dissat ...

– President – 1964–1991 * Frederick Titus Jacob Chiluba – President – 1991–2001 * Levy Patrick Mwanawasa – President – 2001–2008 * Rupiah Bwezani Banda – President – 2008–2011 * Michael Chilufya Sata – President – 2011–2014 * Dr.

Guy Scott Guy Lindsay Scott (born 1 June 1944) is a Zambian politician, who served as acting President of Zambia from 2014 to 2015, and was the Vice President from 2011 to 2014. Scott became acting President upon Michael Sata's death in office on 2 ...

– Acting President – October 2014 – January 2015 *

Edgar Lungu Edgar Chagwa Lungu (born 11 November 1956) is a Zambian politician who served as the sixth president of Zambia from 25 January 2015 to 24 August 2021. Under President Michael Sata, Lungu served as Minister of Justice and Minister of Defence. ...

– President – 2015–2021 *

– President – 2021 – Current

Vice presidents

* Reuben Chitandika Kamanga – Vice President – 1964–1967 *

Simon Kapwepwe Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe (April 12, 1922 – January 26, 1980) was a Zambian politician, anti-colonialist and author who served as the second vice-president of Zambia from 1967 to 1970. Early life Simon Kapwepwe was born on 12 April 1922 in the C ...

– Vice President – 1967–1970 * Mainza Mathias Chona – Vice President – 1970–1973
(post abolished thereafter and reintroduced in 1991) * Levy Patrick Mwanawasa – Vice President – 1991–1994 *

Godfrey Miyanda Godfrey Miyanda (born 1944) is a Zambian politician and former military figure. In 1993, he served as the fifth vice-president of Zambia under Frederick Chiluba's administration. Miyanda professes to be a born-again Christian. He is married t ...

– Vice President – 1994–1997 *

Christon Tembo Lt. Gen. Christon Tembo (1944 – 6 March 2009) was a Zambian politician and army commander. He was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1995 to 1996 and the sixth vice-president of Zambia from 1997 to 2001. He ran for president in the December 20 ...

– Vice President – 1997–2001 * Enoch P. Kavindele – Vice President – 2001–2003 *

Nevers Mumba Nevers Mumba (born 1960 in Chitambo at Chitambo Mission, Zambia) is a Zambian politician and religious minister. He is the current leader of the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy. He served as the eighth vice-president of Zambia in 2003–04 u ...

– Vice President – 2003–2004 * Lupando Katoloshi Mwape – Vice President – 2004–2006 * Rupiah Bwezani Banda – Vice President – 2006–2008 *

George Kunda George Kunda (26 February 1956 – 16 April 2012) was a Zambian lawyer and politician who was the 11th vice-president of Zambia from 2008 to 2011. He served under President Rupiah Banda until their party's loss to Michael Sata's party. Early l ...

– Vice President – 2008–2011 * Dr.

– Vice President – 2011–2014 *

Inonge Wina Inonge Mutukwa Wina (born 2 April 1941) is a Zambian politician who served as the 13th vice-president of Zambia from 2015 to 2021. She was the first woman to hold the position, which made her the highest ranking woman in the history of the Za ...

– Vice President – 2015–2021 *

Mutale Nalumango W.K. Mutale Nalumango (born 1 January 1955) is an educator and politician who is the 14th and current vice president of Zambia, the second woman to hold the position. She previously served as vice-president of the Secondary Schools’ Teachers U ...

– Vice President – 2021–Current

Prime ministers

Mainza Chona Mainza Mathias Chona (21 January 1930 – 11 December 2001) was a Zambian politician and founder of UNIP who served as the third vice-president of Zambia from 1970 to 1973 and Prime Minister on two occasions: from 25 August 1973 to 27 May ...

– Prime Minister, 1973–1975, 1977–1978 *

Elijah Mudenda Elijah Haatuakali Kaiba Mudenda (6 June 1927
''The Times of Zambia'' (

– Prime Minister, 1975–1977 *

Daniel Lisulo Daniel Muchiwa Lisulo (6 December 1930 – 21 August 2000) was the 3rd Prime Minister of Zambia from June 1978 until February 1981. Biography Born in Mongu, Zambia. He graduated from Loyola College, Chennai (then Madras), Tamil Nadu, India. Lisul ...

– Prime Minister, 1978–1981 *

Nalumino Mundia Nalumino Mundia (27 November 1927 – 9 November 1988) was a Zambian politician. He served as the 4th Prime Minister of the country from 18 February 1981 to 24 April 1985. He went on to serve as Zambia's ambassador to the United States, Brazi ...

– Prime Minister, 1981–1985 *

Kebby Musokotwane Kebby Sililo Kambu Musokotwane (5 May 1946 – 11 February 1996) was a politician from Zambia. He was a member of the United National Independence Party and one of the closest allies of former President Kenneth Kaunda. He was Minister of Fina ...

– Prime Minister, 1985–1989, Secretary-General, UNIP 1989–1991, Opposition President, 1992 *

Malimba Masheke Malimba Masheke (born 17 June 1941 in Senanga District, Zambia) is a Zambian politician. He served as the 6th and last Prime Minister of the country from 15 March 1989 to 31 August 1991. Masheke became Prime Minister when the previous Prime Ministe ...

– Prime Minister, 1989–1991 (post abolished thereafter)

Others

* Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika – former minister/democratic campaigner * Anderson Mazoka – former opposition leader (1998–2006) * Austin Liato – former minister/labour leader, former Pan-African Parliament MP * Besnat Jere – former Pan-African Parliament MP * Crispin Shumina – former MP, former Pan-African Parliament MP * Dickson Jere – former Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, under

Rupiah Banda Rupiah Bwezani Banda (19 February 1937 – 11 March 2022) was a Zambian politician who served as the fourth president of Zambia from 2008 to 2011, taking over from Levy Mwanawasa, who died as the sitting president. Banda was an active participan ...

* Edward Makuka Nkoloso – former director of Zambia National Academy of Science, Space Research and Philosophy * Elias Chipimo Jnr – retired opposition leader * Gladys Nyirongo – former Lands Minister *

– opposition leader (2006–2021 (Became president)) * Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika – diplomat, former UNICEF Regional Adviser for Africa, Presidential Candidate (2001) * Kabinga Pande – former Foreign Affairs Minister * Kalombo Mwansa – former Foreign Affairs Minister * Luke Mwananshiku – former Finance Minister * M. K. Mubanga – former Pan-African Parliament MP * Mundia Sikatana – former Justice Minister * Ompie Nkumbula-Lieventhal – former MP, former Pan-African Parliament MP *

Peter Daka Peter Marvin William Daka (born 3 November 1960) is a Zambian politician. He served as a Member of the National Assembly for Msanzala from 2003 to 2021. Biography In the 2001 general elections, Daka contested the Msanzala seat as the Heritag ...

– Minister of science and technology, former Pan-African Parliament MP * Ronnie Shikapwasha – former Information Minister * Susan Nakazwe – former Mayor of Lusaka * Patrick Anthony Mwewa Chikusu – Deputy Minister of Health in the

Republic of Zambia 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 the ...

* Thokozile Muwamba – first female fighter pilot * Besa Mumba – youngest female commercial pilot *Daniel Collins Mwamba – engineer, writer and science enthusiast

Traditional rulers

:Chieftainships are listed here. These articles cover all holders of the traditional titles; prominent individual holders may also have their own articles, usually in ''People in the History of Zambia'' below. Other notable traditional leaders include: * Chitimukulu * Mwata Kazembe * Chief Kanongesha * Chief Monze *

Litunga The Litunga of Barotseland (now in Zambia) is the king of the Barotse people. The ''Litunga'' resides near the Zambezi River and the town of Mongu, at Lealui on the floodplain in the dry season, and on higher ground at Limulunga on the edge of the ...

* Paramount Chief Mpezeni *

Chief Mporokoso Chief Mporokoso (also spelled 'Mpolokoso' and 'Mumpolokoso') is a senior chieftainship of the Bemba people of Zambia, and a subordinate chief of Paramount Chief Chitimukulu. The chief's palace is located in the Northern Province town of Mporokoso ...

Religious figures

Emmanuel Milingo Emmanuel Milingo (born June 13, 1930) is an excommunicated former Roman Catholic archbishop from Zambia. He was ordained in 1958; in 1969, aged 39, Milingo was consecrated by Pope Paul VI as the bishop of the Archdiocese of Lusaka. In 1983, he ...

– Christian leader, has established the 'Married Priests Now' organisation in the

USA The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

* Adrian Mung'andu – Catholic archbishop of Lusaka

Sports

Footballers

Athletes

Boxers

Other sports

Corné Krige Cornelius Petrus Johannes "Corné" Krige (born 21 March 1975) is a retired South African rugby union player. He played flanker for Western Province in the Currie Cup, the Stormers in Super Rugby and captained the South African national side, ...

* Ellis Chibuye * Felix Bwalya *

George Gregan George Musarurwa Gregan AM (born 19 April 1973) is a retired Australian rugby union player, and is currently Australia's most capped international player. Gregan was born in Lusaka, Zambia. He played Super 12 (now Super Rugby) for the Brumbies ...

* Madalitso Muthiya *

Obed Mutanya Obed Mutanya (born 10 August 1981 in Chingola) is a Zambian long-distance and cross country runner. He was a two-time All-American in outdoor track for the University of Arizona and competed in cross-country and indoor track for the Wildcats as we ...

* PG Nana *

Samuel Matete Samuel Matete (born 27 July 1968 in Chingola) is a retired male track and field athlete from Zambia, who competed mainly in 400 metres hurdles. Career Noted for his exceptionally fast finish, he was one of the world's leading hurdlers in the earl ...

* Yunus Badat * Amon Simutowe

Artists

* Henry Tayali * David Fairbairn * Agnes Yombwe * Milumbe Haimbe * Mulenga Mulenga *

Paul Ngozi Paul Ngozi (1949–1989), born Paul Dobson Nyirongo, was a Zambian musician who was prominent in the Zambian music scene in the 1970s and 1980s. He first became popular as the band leader of the Ngozi Family, a top local rock group which was one o ...

Authors

Dambisa Moyo Dambisa Felicia Moyo, Baroness Moyo (born 2 February 1969)Moyo showed a copy of an official document with her date and place of birth as part of a lecture she gave at TEDGlobal 2013, Edinburgh, Scotland. is a Zambian-born economist and author, ...

* Field Ruwe * Binwell Sinyangwe *

Wilbur Smith Wilbur Addison Smith (9 January 1933 – 13 November 2021) was a Zambian-born British-South African novelist specialising in historical fiction about international involvement in Southern Africa across four centuries, seen from the viewpoints ...

Ellen Banda-Aaku Ellen Banda-Aaku (born 6 May 1965) is a Zambian author, radio drama and film producer who was born in the UK and grew up in Africa.

* Jack Avon *

Namwali Serpell Carla Namwali Serpell (born 1980) is an American and Zambian writer who teaches in the United States. In April 2014, she was named on Hay Festival's Africa39 list of 39 Sub-Saharan African writers aged under 40 with the potential and talent to de ...

Fwanyanga Mulikita Fwanyanga Matale Mulikita (24 November 1928 – 2 September 1998) was a Zambian politician. He held several ministerial positions during the late 1960s and 1970s, and was later Speaker of the National Assembly Biography Mulikita was born in S ...

Kenneth Kaunda Kenneth David Kaunda (28 April 1924 – 17 June 2021), 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. Diss ...

Chess players

* Amon Simutowe

Zambian lawyers

* Likando Kalaluka - Attorney General of the republic of Zambia from 2015 to 2021 * Chipokota Mwanawasa - Special Assistant to the Zambian President for Public Policy from 2021 to date. * Nelly Mutti * Bokani Soko - Prominent business and lawyer

Media and TV

* Jonah Buyoya - Zambian Journalist

Physicians

* Aaron Mujajati * Emmanuel Wiza Sichinga

Other people born in/related to Zambia

* Steve Arneil – Karate

Kyokushin is a style of karate originating in Japan. It is a style of stand-up fighting and is rooted in a philosophy of self-improvement, discipline, and hard training. Kyokushin Kaikan is the martial arts organization founded in 1964 by Korean-Jap ...

practitioner born in South Africa, but lived in Zambia *

Joseph and Luka Banda Joseph Banda and Luka Banda (born 23 January 1997) are twin brothers who used to be conjoined. They were born joined at the back of the skull and faced in opposite directions. In 1997, neurosurgeon Ben Carson led a team of 50 Zambian and South Afri ...

– Conjoined twins *

Lukwesa Burak Lukwesa Burak (; born ) is a news presenter and former weather presenter for BBC News in the UK. Previously, she worked for Al Jazeera English, Sky News and before that ''Africa Edition'' on eNCA (formerly known as ''eNews Channel''), based in S ...

– Sky News anchor based in London * Norman Carr – British wildlife conservationist who set up national parks in Zambia *

John Edmond John Edmond (born 18 November 1936) is a Rhodesian folk singer and retired soldier who became popular in the 1970s for his Rhodesian patriotic songs. He reached the height of his fame during the Rhodesian Bush War where he was sometimes known ...

– Zambian-born Rhodesian singer *

Phil Edmonds Philippe-Henri Edmonds (born 8 March 1951) is a former cricketer who represented England at international level and Middlesex at county level. After retiring he became a successful, albeit controversial, corporate executive. Edmonds played mo ...

– English cricketer born in Lusaka *

Robert Earnshaw Robert Earnshaw (born 6 April 1981) is a Welsh former international footballer who played as a forward. He is the only player to have scored a hat-trick in the Premier League, all three divisions of the English Football League, the League Cup, ...

– Zambian-born Welsh international football player * Stanley Fischer – Zambian-born Deputy Chairman of the U.S.

Federal Reserve Bank A Federal Reserve Bank is a regional bank of the Federal Reserve System, the central banking system of the United States. There are twelve in total, one for each of the twelve Federal Reserve Districts that were created by the Federal Reserve ...

and Governor of the Bank of Israel * Tawny Gray – sculptor *

– Zambian-born captain of the Australian Wallabies Rugby Union team * Amy Holmes – Zambian-born (Zambian father, American mother), The Blaze news anchor and CNN political contributor * Daffyd James – Zambian-born Welsh international rugby player * V. M. Jones – Author *

– Zambian-born South African Springboks Rugby Union team player *

Robert Lange The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...

– Zambian-born record producer and songwriter *

Chilu Lemba Chilu Lemba (born 27 August 1975) is a Zambian-born and South African–based radio and television presenter, voice over artist, author and musician. His voice is heard across the continent daily on ads ranging from branding commercials for wash ...

– Radio and TV presenter * Rozalla Miller – British/Zimbabwean singer born to a Zambian mother *

– International economist and best-selling author, born and raised in Lusaka *

Martin Mubanga Martin Mubanga is a joint citizen of both the United Kingdom and Zambia. He was held, without charge, and interrogated at the American prison at Guantanamo Bay for 33 months. In 1995, he spent six months in Bosnia working for a charity. In Jan ...

– Zambian extrajudicial prisoner of the United States * Monica Musonda – Lawyer turned entrepreneur * Rungano Nyoni – Zambian-born Welsh director * Nsofwa Petronella Sampa – Psychological counselor and HIV activist *

Emeli Sandé Adele Emily Sandé, ( ; born 10 March 1987), known professionally as Emeli Sandé, is a Scottish singer and songwriter. Born in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, and raised in Alford, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, by an English mother and a Zambian father ...

– British singer, Zambian father *

Denise Scott Brown Denise Scott Brown (née Lakofski; born October 3, 1931) is an American architect, planner, writer, educator, and principal of the firm Venturi, Scott Brown and Associates in Philadelphia. Scott Brown and her husband and partner, Robert Venturi, ...

– Zambian-born American architect * David Shepherd – British conservationist who has painted Zambian wildlife * Kapelwa Sikota (1928–2006) – First Zambian registered nurse * Hammerskjoeld Simwinga – Conservationist/environmentalist *

Peter Amos Siwo Peter Amos Mbiko Siwo ( – ) He was born in Siwo Village beside the Thandiwe Caves, near Chipata in Eastern Province. He was a pupil at Munali Boys Secondary School, Lusaka and became Head Boy, at that time it was the only secondary school for b ...

– Pioneering graduate and civil servant *

– Zambian-born British/South African author *

Jeff Whitley Jeffrey Whitley (born 28 January 1979) is a former professional footballer who now works for the Professional Footballers Association as a player wellbeing executive. As a player he was a midfielder who notably played in the Premier League for ...

– Zambian-born footballer

Other prominent figures in the history of Zambia

This is a list of deceased historical figures (or sub-lists of them) in Zambia and its antecedent territories, and combines Zambians, Africans and non-Zambians including British people and Northern Rhodesians. * Robert Edward Codrington – colonial administrator of the two territories ruled by the British South Africa Company (BSAC) which later became Zambia *

Father Jean-Jacques Corbeil Father Jean Jacques Corbeil was a French Canadian Roman Catholic missionary who collected and documented musical instruments of Zambia's Bemba people Bemba may refer to: * Bemba language (Chibemba), a Bantu language spoken in Zambia * Bemba peopl ...

– Canadian missionary and ethnographer of Bemba culture * Dan Crawford – missionary pioneer * Bishop Joseph Dupont – missionary pioneer * Sir Stewart Gore-Browne – called Chipembele by Africans, soldier, pioneer white settler, builder, politician and supporter of independence in Northern Rhodesia * List of Governors of Northern Rhodesia * List of Governors-General of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland *

Evelyn Dennison Hone Sir Evelyn Dennison Hone (13 December 1911 – 18 September 1979) was the last Governor of Northern Rhodesia, from 1959 until it gained its independence as Zambia in 1964. Early life Hone was born into the Hone family in Salisbury, Southern Rh ...

– last governor of Northern Rhodesia * Alice Lenshina – leader of the Lumpa religious sect * General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck – leader of German East Africa forces of World War I *

Lewanika Lewanika (1842–1916) (also known as Lubosi, Lubosi Lewanika or Lewanika I) was the Lozi Litunga (King) of Barotseland from 1878 to 1916 (with a break in 1884-5). A detailed, although biased, description of King 'Lubossi' (the spelling used) can ...

– Litunga of the Lozi *

David Livingstone David Livingstone (; 19 March 1813 – 1 May 1873) was a Scottish physician, Congregationalist, and pioneer Christian missionary with the London Missionary Society, an explorer in Africa, and one of the most popular British heroes of t ...

– British Scottish missionary-explorer *

Michael Mataka Michael Mataka is notable in making history as the first native African to become commissioner of the Zambian police. He also had a featured role in George Marshall directed film ''Duel in the Jungle''. Police career Mataka joined the Northern R ...

– first native Zambian to become police commissioner * Mwata Kazembe – Chief of the Kazembe-Lunda *

Mpezeni Mpezeni (also spelt ''Mpeseni'') (1830–1900) was warrior-king of one of the largest Ngoni groups of central Africa, based in what is now the Chipata District of Zambia, at a time when the British South Africa Company (BSAC) of Cecil Rhodes was ...

– warrior-king of one of the largest Ngoni groups of central Africa *

– Prime Minister, 1981–1985 *

Alick Nkhata Alick Nkhata (1922–1978) was a Zambian musician, freedom fighter and broadcaster from the 1950s to the mid-1970s. He was also the director of the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC), and formed the Lusaka Radio Band, later called the B ...

– popular Zambian musician and broadcaster in the 1950s through to the mid-1970s *

Baldwin Nkumbula Baldwin Mwanakumabu Nkumbula (died 27 August 1995) was a Zambian politician and a son of veteran politician Harry Nkumbula. He served in Frederick Chiluba's Movement for Multi-Party Democracy government as Minister of Sports from 1991 until Augu ...

Harry Nkumbula Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula (15 January 1916 – 8 October 1983)Mwene Chitengi Chiyengele – Mbunda chief who led his tribesmen from north-eastern

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to Bulozi, western

around 1795. * Cecil Rhodes – English-born businessman, mining magnate, and politician in South Africa and an ardent believer in colonialism and imperialism, founder of the state of Rhodesia *

Sebetwane Sebetwane (between about 1790 and 1800 – July 7, 1851) was chief of the Patsa branch of the Bafokeng clan. He established the large and powerful Makololo nation in what is now southwestern Zambia after an arduous migration of over 1200 kil ...

– Basotho chief who fled from Shaka Zulu, eventually conquering and settling in Western Province *

Mamochisane Mamochisane (fl. 1851) was a Makololo Queen who ruled over many people, but especially the Lozi in Barotseland, today's Western Zambia, in 1851. She was later a wife of King Sipopa Lutangu. Biography Mamochisane was a daughter of the King Sebet ...

– daughter of Sebetwane, succeeded him as Makololo queen *

Sekeletu Sekeletu (c. 1835–1863) was the Makololo King of Barotseland in western Zambia from about 1851 to his death in 1863. Biography Sekeletu was a son of the King Sebetwane and Queen Setlutlu. He succeeded his half-sister Mamochisane, who h ...

– Makololo King of Barotseland in western Zambia from about 1851 to his death in 1863 *

Alfred Sharpe Sir Alfred Sharpe (19 May 1853 – 10 December 1935) was Commissioner and Consul-General for the British Central Africa Protectorate and first Governor of Nyasaland. He trained as a solicitor but was in turn a planter and a professional hun ...

– British administrator and agent for Cecil Rhodes *

Lawrence Aubrey Wallace Sir Lawrence Aubrey Wallace (2 February 1857 - 26 February 1942) was a British colonial administrator. He was administrator of North-Eastern Rhodesia from April 1907 to January 1909, administrator of Barotziland-North-Western Rhodesia from Janu ...

Roy Welensky Sir Roland "Roy" Welensky, (''né'' Raphael Welensky; 20 January 1907 – 5 December 1991) was a Northern Rhodesian politician and the second and last Prime Minister of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. Born in Salisbury, Southern Rh ...

– leader of white trade union and settler politician

References

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