Mainza Chona
| Mainza Chona | |
|---|---|
| Vice President of Zambia | |
|
In office 1970–1973 |
|
| President | Kenneth Kaunda |
| Preceded by | Simon Kapwepwe |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| 1st Prime Minister of Zambia | |
|
In office 25 August 1973 – 27 May 1975 |
|
| Preceded by | Position re-created |
| Succeeded by | Elijah Mudenda |
|
In office 20 July 1977 – 15 June 1978 |
|
| Preceded by | Elijah Mudenda |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Lisulo |
| Minister of Home Affairs | |
|
In office 1966–1969 |
|
| Zambian Ambassador to the United States | |
|
In office 1969–1970 |
|
| Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney-General | |
|
In office 1975–1977 |
|
| Secretary General of UNIP | |
|
In office 1978–1981 |
|
| Zambian Ambassador to China | |
|
In office 1984–1989 |
|
| Zambian Ambassador to France | |
|
In office 1989–1992 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Sikaye Chingula Namukamba 21 January 1930  Nampeyo, near Monze, Northern Rhodesia
|
| Died | 11 December 2001 (aged 71) Milpark Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa
|
| Nationality |
 Zambian
|
| Spouse(s) | Yolanta Mainza (m. 1953) |
Mainza Mathias Chona (21 January 1930 – 11 December 2001) was a Zambian politician and diplomat.
He served as Vice President of Zambia from 1970 to 1973 and Prime Minister on two occasions: from 25 August 1973 to 27 May 1975 and from 20 July 1977 to 15 June 1978. He was Secretary General of the United National Independence Party (UNIP), the ruling party, from 1978 to 1981. This position was the de facto second in command in the hierarchy of Zambian politics during the period of the One Party Participatory State (1973–1991).
He also held various government positions, including Justice Minister (1964–1968), Home Affairs Minister (1968–1969) and Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney-General (1975–1978). He was Secretary-General of UNIP from 1978 to 1981 and Ambassador to the People's Republic of China from 1984 to 1989. He later served as Ambassador to France until 1992.
Mainza Mathias Chona was born Sikaye Chingula Namukamba on 21 January 1930 at Nampeyo, near Monze in the Southern Province of the British colony of Northern Rhodesia (which later became Zambia). His father was Hameja Chilala (also known as Chief Chona). His mother, Nhandu (Chinyama), was one of his father's five wives.
Chona received his primary education at Chona out-school in Nampeyo (established by the Jesuit mission at his father's request), and at Chikuni (the Jesuit headquarters). It was at Chikuni that Chona converted to Catholicism. He completed his secondary education at Munali Secondary School in Lusaka in 1951 and then worked as an interpreter at the High Court in Livingstone. However, his ambition was to become a lawyer.
In pursuit of his goal, Chona secured a scholarship that took him to London in 1955, where he studied at Gray's Inn. He was called to the bar in 1958. While in England, he met other African nationalists, including Harry Nkumbula and Kenneth Kaunda. He also made contact with London-based White supporters of the nationalist cause, such as Simon Zukas and Doris Lessing. This was also when he adopted the name Mathias Mainza Chona by deed poll.
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