Vera Tembo
| Vera Tembo | |
|---|---|
| First Lady of Zambia | |
|
In role November 2, 1991 – September 25, 2001 |
|
| President | Frederick Chiluba |
| Preceded by | Betty Kaunda |
| Succeeded by | Maureen Mwanawasa |
| Member of the National Assembly | |
|
In office 2006–2011 |
|
| Preceded by | ? |
| Succeeded by | Victoria Kalima |
| Constituency | Kasenengwa |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 25, 1953 |
| Political party | MMD |
| Spouse(s) | Frederick Chiluba (?-2000; divorced) |
| Children | Nine |
Vera Tembo (born July 25, 1953) is a Zambian politician and member of the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD). She served as the First Lady of Zambia from 1991 until her separation from her former husband, President Frederick Chiluba.
In 2006, she made her political comeback by being elected to the National Assembly of Zambia from Kasenengwa constituency.
Tembo was married to Frederick Chiluba, with whom she had nine children, for thirty-three years, until he announced their separation in 2000. Chiluba became President of Zambia in 1991, making Tembo the country's First Lady from 1991 until their divorce. Tembo left the State House, the presidential residence, shortly after Chiluba's announcement and moved in with family in Ndola. Their divorce became final on September 25, 2001, when an annulment was granted by a local court in Ndola after thirty-three years of marriage.
Vera Tembo described the circumstances of her separation and divorce from Chiluba as "humiliating." She campaigned during the 2001 general election by urging Zambian women to vote in the election. She also signaled her intention to enter politics. Chiluba left office in December 2001 after failing to win support for a third presidential term, which was banned by the country's Constitution. Former President Frederick Chiluba married his girlfriend, Regina Mwanza, in 2002, a few months after his divorce from Tembo was finalized.
By early 2002, Zambian newspapers reported that Tembo was living in poverty after Chiluba had allegedly frozen her bank account. She filed a $2.5 U.S. dollar lawsuit against Chiluba as part of the divorce settlement. The Zambian government offered Tembo financial assistance in May 2002 after she listed her personal possessions in an auction.
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