Edith Nawakwi
Minister of Finance
In office
1998 (1998)–1999 (1999)
PresidentFrederick Chiluba
Preceded byRonald Penza
Succeeded byKatele Kalumba
Personal details
Born
Edith Zewelani Nawakwi

1959 (age 64–65)
Mwenzo, Northern Province, Zambia
Political partyForum for Democracy and Development
SpouseGeofrey Hambulo
Children3
Alma mater
Occupation
ProfessionEconomist

Edith Zewelani Nawakwi (born c. 1959) is a Zambian politician and economist by profession. She is the first woman in Zambia to hold the post of Minister of Finance following her appointment in 1998 since Zambia's independence 33 years previously to that time. She was also the first woman to hold that post in the SADC region. She is the President of the Forum for Democracy and Development under which she ran for president at the 2016 general election.[1]

Early life and education

Nawakwi was born in Mwenzo, Northern Province of Zambia. She holds a degree in Agriculture Economics and Business Management from the University of Zambia and a post-graduate diploma in Economics of Energy and Development from Imperial College London, London.[2]

Career

Her political career saw her join the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) in 1990. She held various political positions including Minister of State for Energy & Water Development, Minister of Energy & Water Development, Minister of Agriculture, Food & Fisheries, Minister of Finance and Minister of Labour & Social Security between 1992 and 2001.[3]

In 2001, she and some ex-members of the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy formed the Forum for Democracy and Development where she served as the party's secretary-general and vice-president before she was elected party president in 2005, making her the first woman in Zambia to achieve such feat.[4] In 2011, under the platform of the Forum for Democracy and Development, she was the only woman who contested in the 2011 general election, placing seventh on the log with a total of 6,833 votes.[5][6][7] She also contested in the 2015 presidential election, placing third with a vote percentage of 0.92%.[8] In 2016, she ran for the presidency at the 2016 general election where she placed third, receiving a total of 24,149 votes.[9][10]

Personal life

She is married to Geofrey Hambulo with whom she has three children.[11] In January 2013, one of her daughters, Hatamba Hambulo was murdered. Her dumped body was found in a manhole in Ibex Hill with her hands and legs tied.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Michael Chawe (22 July 2016). "Meet Zambia's sole woman presidential contender". Africa Review. Lusaka, Zambia. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  2. ↑ Eric Gondwe. "Edith Nawakwi". zambian.com. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  3. ↑ David Kapoma (9 February 2016). "The positive side of your candidates – Edith Nawakwi". Zambian Eye. Archived from the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  4. ↑ Hildah Lumba (23 January 2015). "Why women leaders perform badly in presidential elections". Times of Zambia. Lusaka Voice. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  5. ↑ "Edith Nawakwi – Set to be the country's first female President". News Time Africa. 20 September 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  6. ↑ Paul Monde Shalala (20 January 2015). "FACTSHEET: Zambia's presidential candidates and their promises". Africa Check. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  7. ↑ "2011 presidential election results" (PDF). Electoral Commission of Zambia. 28 September 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  8. ↑ "2015 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: National Totals / NAWAKWI, Edith Z NAWAKWI, EDITH Z". Electoral Commission of Zambia. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  9. ↑ "2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: National Totals / NAWAKWI, Edith Z NAWAKWI, EDITH Z". Electoral Commission of Zambia. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  10. ↑ Kizito Sikuka (15 August 2016). "Edgar Lungu re-elected Zambian president". Southern African Research and Documentation Centre. Southern African News Features. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  11. ↑ Malupenga, Amos (8 May 2005). "Zambia: I'm Happily Married - Nawakwi". The Post. allAfrica. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  12. ↑ "Nawakwi's daughter murdered". Zambian Watchdog. 9 January 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
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