Anderson Mazoka

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Anderson K. Mazoka (22 March 1943 – 24 May 2006) was a Zambian politician and President of the United Party for National Development (UPND).

Anderson Mazoka
Anderson Mazoka. Credit: Judy G. Rolfe
Born(1943-03-22)22 March 1943
Died24 May 2006(2006-05-24) (aged 63)
Johannesburg, South
Cause of deathKidney complications[1]
NationalityZambian
Education
  • Union College
  • Harvard University
OccupationPolitician
Political partyUnited Party for National Development
Spouse(s)Christine Mutinta
ChildrenMutinta, Pasina, Anderson Jr, Machenje and Lundu

Early life and education

Mazoka was born in Monze, Zambia (then Northern Rhodesia). He attended Union College, in Schenectady, New York, where he graduated in 1969 with a degree in mechanical engineering. For his senior thesis, Mazoka designed and built a wind tunnel in 10 weeks on a low budget less than $100. The tunnel, whose construction attracted attention from the media, filled the basement of the college's Science and Engineering department and would be used for three decades.[2]

Mazoka loved to play sports. He distinguished himself as a soccer player at Union College. He worked summers at General Electric.[1]

Career

With his engineering degree and his Harvard University management diploma Mazoka entered the Zambian business community. In the 1970’s he served as director of Zambia Railways, the state railways, when Kenneth Kaunda was President of Zambia.[1]

He later worked for Anglo-America Corp., a mining and general resources company, for eighteen years - the last ten as general manager of the Central African division. He also once headed the Zambian Tourism Bureau. His notable tourism influence was reaching an agreement with a South African hotel chain to turn the Ridgeway Hotel in Lusaka into Holiday Inn.[1]

Political career

Mazoka was one of the founders of President Frederick Chiluba's party, the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD), which rallied to beat President Kaunda's ruling United National Independence Party (UNIP) in 1991.

Mazoka left the MMD and decided focus on his day job at Anglo American. He soon decided to form his own party. He named it the United Party for National Development (UPND), the businessman who hoped that a political turn-about would also lead to a revival of the economy.[1]

In the presidential election held on 27 December 2001, he finished second behind Levy Mwanawasa of the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) party, winning 27.2% of the vote.

Personal life

He was married to Christine Mutinta and had three children with her: Mutinta, Pasina and Anderson Jr. Other children include Machenje and Lundu.

Death

On 24 May 2006, Mazoka died from kidney complications in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was 63 years old. He was succeeded as leader of the UPND by Hakainde Hichilema.[3]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Anderson Mazoka on Zambia Online
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