Kebby Musokotwane

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Kebby Musokotwane
Born(1946-05-05)May 5, 1946
Died February 11, 1996(1996-02-11) (aged 49)
OccupationPolitician
Spouse(s)Regina Muzya Sibulowa
Children7 (4 sons, 3 daughters)[1]

Kebby Sililo Kambu Musokotwane (5 May 1946 – 11 February 1996) was a Zambian politician. He was a member of the United National Independence Party (UNIP) and one of the closest allies of former President Kenneth Kaunda. Under Kaunda, Musokotwane became Zambia’s youngest prime minister when he was appointed at age 38.[2]

Early life and education

Musokotwane was born on May 5, 1946 as Kebby Sililo Kambulu Musokotwane, in Musokotwane village. Zambia was then called Northern Rhodesia.[1]

He was educated at Monze Secondary School, Livingstone Teachers College, and the University of Zambia. He then served as a school teacher and college lecturer before entering politics.[1]

Political career

He entered politics in 1973 when he became member of parliament for Katombola constituency in the first one-party elections of December 1973. In 1977, Musokotwane was appointed minister of Water and Natural Resources. In 1979, he was moved to the sports ministry in the same capacity. That same year he was transferred to the education ministry where he stayed for two years before becoming finance minister.

At 38, Musokotwane became Zambia's youngest prime minister from 24 April 1985 until 15 March 1989. In 1987 he combined the post with that of finance minister. He was relieved of the prime minister's portfolio in 1989 and initially sent back to education ministry, but after protest, he was sent to Canada as Zambia's high commissioner in 1990. It is said that he was relieved of the prime minister position because he continued to become a popular figure, which began to be seen as threat by President Kenneth Kaunda. General Malimba Masheke, a career soldier and Kaunda loyalist, was moved from the home affairs ministry to the prime ministership, replacing Musokotwane.[1]

When the multiparty movement gained momentum in 1990, speculation was high that he would join the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD). But he stuck to UNIP. He then became secretary-general of the UNIP, and when Kaunda stepped down as President of the party in 1992, following the party's election defeat in 1991, Musokotwane was elected President of the party, with Kaunda's support. Musokotwane went on to head the United National Independence Party for three years before Kaunda announced plans for a political comeback in 1995 hoping to revive the party. In June 1995, UNIP held congress elections for party presidency where Musokotwane lost to Kaunda who polled 1,916 to Musokotwane's 400 votes.

In 1993 he was embroiled in scandal when he admitted that a radical faction of the party was conspiring to topple the new government of Frederick Chiluba.

Personal life

He was married to Regina Muzya Sibulowa, who he met while he was a lecturer. They later married in 1967 and together they had four sons and three daughters.

Death

He died on 11 February 1996 at age 49 after an ailment.[3]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Kebby Musokotwane on Zambia.com
  2. Former Zambian Prime Minister Musokotwane Dies, AP News, February 13, 1996
  3. Lua error in ...ribunto/includes/Engines/LuaCommon/lualib/mwInit.lua at line 23: bad argument #1 to 'old_ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
Preceded by
Nalumino Mundia
Prime Minister of Zambia
1985–1989
Succeeded by
Malimba Masheke