Mwanawasa, Levy Patrick

▪ 2009

      Zambian attorney and politician

born Sept. 3, 1948, Mufulira, Northern Rhodesia [now Zambia]

died Aug. 19, 2008, Paris, France

as the third president (2002–08) of Zambia, launched an anticorruption campaign that included stripping his predecessor, Frederick Chiluba, of immunity from prosecution and distinguished himself as one of the few African leaders to publicly criticize Zimbabwean Pres. Robert Mugabe. Mwanawasa, a member of the Lenje tribe, read law (1970–73) at the University of Zambia, Lusaka. He became an assistant in a law firm in Ndola in 1974 and qualified for the bar in 1975. After forming (1978) his own legal firm, he became (1982) vice-chairman of the Law Association of Zambia and served (1985–86) as the country's solicitor general. When Pres. Kenneth Kaunda reluctantly approved the creation of opposition parties in December 1990, Mwanawasa joined the new Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), headed by Chiluba. In 1991 Mwanawasa was elected to the National Assembly for the Ndola constituency. He was appointed vice president and leader of the Assembly under President Chiluba, but he resigned office in July 1994, accusing the Chiluba government of condoning irresponsibility and greed. With Chiluba's impending retirement, Mwanawasa was unexpectedly adopted in 2001 as the MMD's candidate for president. He polled only 28.69% of the votes cast, while the nearest of the other 10 candidates received 26.76%; the result was initially challenged by his opponents, but he moved quickly to establish his authority and distance himself from Chiluba. Although Mwanawasa suffered a stroke in April 2006, he stood for reelection later that year, garnering 42.98% of the vote. Sporadic violence ensued in areas loyal to his nearest challenger, Michael Sata (with 29.37%). The results stood, however, and Mwanawasa was sworn in for his second term. He suffered another stroke in late June 2008 and was taken to France for medical treatment.

▪ 2003

      Levy Mwanawasa was sworn in as president of Zambia on Jan. 2, 2002. His victory in the election held in December 2001 had been a narrow one—he polled only 28.69% of the votes cast, while the nearest of the other 10 candidates polled 26.76%—and the result was initially challenged by his opponents.

      A member of the Lenje tribe, Mwanawasa was born in Mufulira, Northern Rhodesia, on Sept. 3, 1948. He was educated at Chiwala Secondary School in Ndola and then read law at the University of Zambia in Lusaka from 1970 to 1973. Mwanawasa became an assistant in a law firm in Ndola in 1974 and qualified for the bar in 1975. He formed his own law company in 1978 and became vice-chairman of the Law Association of Zambia in 1982. In 1985–86 he served as solicitor general of Zambia.

      When Pres. Kenneth Kaunda reluctantly approved the creation of opposition parties in Zambia in December 1990, Mwanawasa joined Frederick Chiluba's new Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD). In the elections that followed in October 1991, he became a member of the National Assembly for the Ndola constituency. He was then appointed vice president and leader of the Assembly in President Chiluba's government, which took over from Kaunda's United National Independence Party (UNIP).

      Mwanawasa resigned office in July 1994, claiming that he had been increasingly sidelined by the president to the point that his position had become irrelevant. He also accused the government of condoning irresponsibility and greed. Subsequently, Mwanawasa devoted himself primarily to his legal practice until, with Chiluba's impending retirement, he was unexpectedly adopted in August 2001 as the MMD candidate for president.

      Although the opposition soon abandoned its protest against President Mwanawasa, his position was weakened by two other factors. First, the MMD, which had lost considerable support because of Chiluba's policies, had performed only modestly in the legislative elections and was unable to command an overall majority in the National Assembly. Second, although Chiluba insisted at the inauguration ceremony that Mwanawasa would formulate his own policies, the new president was widely believed to be Chiluba's man. Because Chiluba had tried hard but unsuccessfully to change the constitution so that he could stand for a third term and he still retained the MMD presidency, many thought that he would try to control events from the wings.

      Mwanawasa, however, moved quickly to establish his authority and to launch a campaign against the corruption that had brought the MMD into disrepute. He abolished the Ministry of Defense and took over that portfolio himself and also retired 10 senior military officers. In March he dismissed a number of officeholders thought to be disloyal to the government, and at about the same time, Chiluba relinquished the leadership of the MMD. In July, Foreign Minister Katele Kalumba resigned amid allegations of corruption, and any further doubts about Mwanawasa's relationship to Chiluba were dispelled when the National Assembly voted unanimously to withdraw the former president's parliamentary immunity.

Kenneth Ingham

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▪ president of Zambia

born Sept. 3, 1948, Mufulira, Northern Rhodesia [now Zambia]

died Aug. 19, 2008, Paris, France

 Zambian attorney and politician who became the third president of Zambia (2002–08).

      Mwanawasa was a member of the Lenje tribe and was educated at Chiwala Secondary School in Ndola. He read law at the University of Zambia in Lusaka from 1970 to 1973 and became an assistant in a law firm in Ndola in 1974, qualifying for the bar in 1975. He formed his own law company in 1978 and became vice-chairman of the Law Association of Zambia in 1982. In 1985–86 he served as solicitor general of Zambia.

      When Pres. Kenneth Kaunda (Kaunda, Kenneth) reluctantly approved the creation of opposition parties in Zambia in December 1990, Mwanawasa joined the new Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), headed by Frederick Chiluba. In elections held in October 1991, Mwanawasa became a member of the National Assembly for the Ndola constituency. He was then appointed vice president and leader of the Assembly in President Chiluba's government, which took over from Kaunda's United National Independence Party (UNIP).

      Mwanawasa resigned office in July 1994, claiming that Chiluba had made his position increasingly irrelevant. He also accused the government of condoning irresponsibility and greed. Subsequently Mwanawasa devoted himself primarily to his legal practice until, with Chiluba's impending retirement, he was unexpectedly adopted in August 2001 as the MMD's candidate for president. His victory in the election, held in December 2001, was a narrow one—he polled only 28.69 percent of the votes cast, while the nearest of the other 10 candidates polled 26.76 percent—and the result was initially challenged by his opponents. He was sworn into office on Jan. 2, 2002.

      Although the opposition soon abandoned its protest, Mwanawasa was hindered by the MMD's loss of an overall majority in the National Assembly, which was in many ways a response to Chiluba's unpopular policies. In addition, Chiluba had tried unsuccessfully to modify the constitution so that he could stand for a third term, and he still retained the MMD presidency, leading many to believe he would attempt to exert undo influence on Mwanawasa. Mwanawasa, however, moved quickly to establish his authority and launched a campaign against the corruption that had brought the MMD into disrepute. Chiluba eventually relinquished leadership of the MMD. Any further doubts about Mwanawasa's relationship to Chiluba were dispelled when the National Assembly voted unanimously to withdraw the former president's parliamentary immunity.

Kenneth Ingham

      Mwanawasa initiated a review of the country's constitution in 2003 in an effort to bring about political reform. However, some organizations invited to review the constitution declined to do so, claiming the process was flawed; thus, a new constitution was never implemented. Concerns over Mwanawasa's health emerged late in his first term, after he suffered a stroke in April 2006. He reassured the country that he was fit for office and stood for reelection later that year, garnering 42.98 percent of the vote. His nearest competitor, Michael Sata, who received 29.37 percent of the vote, made claims of voting irregularities and contested the election. Sporadic violence ensued in areas loyal to Sata, but the result of the election stood, and Mwanawasa was sworn in for his second term in October 2006. Mwanawasa again suffered a stroke in late June 2008. Rumours of his death circulated a few days later but were quickly refuted by Zambian government officials. He never fully recovered, however, and he died several weeks later.

Ed.

 

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