Mundia Sikatana
Mundia Sikatana | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 6 March 1938 Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) |
| Died | June 14, 2012 (aged 74) |
| Nationality | Zambian |
| Occupation | Lawyer, Politician, Diplomat |
| Known for | Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anti-corruption advocate |
Mundia Sikatana (6 March 1938 – 14 June 2012) was a Zambian lawyer, politician and farmer, known for his leadership in various government positions, including Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Early Life and Career
Mundia Sikatana was born on 6 March 1938 in Sefula area of Mongu district in Zambia, then Northern Rhodesia. He pursued a career in law, becoming a successful lawyer and championed the cause for justice and the respect of human rights.
Political Career
Sikatana's political career gained prominence in the early 2000s when he was appointed Minister of Agriculture by President Levy Mwanawasa. His tenure in agriculture was marked by significant reforms aimed at improving food security in Zambia. He promoted diversification away from reliance on maize, encouraging the cultivation of alternative crops like cassava, sorghum, and millet, which were better suited to Zambia’s climate.
In 2002, Siktana was appointed as Minister of Agriculture, a position he held till 2006. In his first year as minister of agriculture, Sikatana and the Mwanawasa-led government faced wide-scale media condemnation for rejecting 35,000 tons of food aid donation from America believed to have been genetically modified maize. This was amidst the country's severe food shortages in 2002. Sikatana advocated for the use of indigenous African crops and farming methods, as these were safe for the people.
Upon the re-election of President Levy Mwanawasa in 2006, Sikatana was appointed Foreign Affairs Minister on 9 August 2006. On 22 August 2007, he was fired as foreign minister with Mwanawasa citing Sikatana's declining health.[1] However, on 3 September, Siktana refuted that claim, citing instead his reputation as an anti-Mugabe politician and Mwanawasa's better relationship with Mugabe following his appointment as head of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Advocacy and Anti-Corruption
Sikatana was known for his fierce independence and his staunch opposition to corruption. Even before joining government, he was an outspoken critic of corruption in Zambian politics. As a minister, he supported President Mwanawasa’s anti-corruption campaign and was regarded as one of the administration’s most principled members.
Illness and death
In 2007, Mundia Sikatana retired from active politics due to health reasons. He had been battling illness for some time, and his condition eventually led to his resignation from government. On 12 June 2012, he was admitted to the University Teaching Hospital Intensive Care Unit in Lusaka. He died on 14 June 2012.
Legacy
Mundia Sikatana is remembered for his commitment to Zambia’s development, particularly in agriculture and governance. His advocacy for transparency and accountability in government, as well as his efforts to strengthen food security in Zambia, left a lasting impact on the country.
| Preceded by ? |
Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Minister of Zambia 2002-2006 |
Succeeded by Ben Kapita |
| Preceded by Ronnie Shikapwasha |
Foreign Minister of Zambia 2006-2007 |
Succeeded by Kabinga Pande |
References
- Lua error in ...ribunto/includes/Engines/LuaCommon/lualib/mwInit.lua at line 23: bad argument #1 to 'old_ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- Lua error in ...ribunto/includes/Engines/LuaCommon/lualib/mwInit.lua at line 23: bad argument #1 to 'old_ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
External links
- ↑ Lua error in ...ribunto/includes/Engines/LuaCommon/lualib/mwInit.lua at line 23: bad argument #1 to 'old_ipairs' (table expected, got nil).