Mainza Chona facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mainza Chona
3rd Vice President of Zambia
In office October 1970 – August 1973
President	Kenneth Kaunda
Preceded by	Simon Kapwepwe
Succeeded by	Vacant
1st Prime Minister of Zambia
In office 25 August 1973 – 27 May 1975
Preceded by	Position re-created
Succeeded by	Elijah Mudenda
In office 20 July 1977 – 15 June 1978
Preceded by	Elijah Mudenda
Succeeded by	Daniel Lisulo
Minister of Home Affairs
In office 1966–1969
Zambian Ambassador to the United States
In office 1969–1970
Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney-General
In office 1975–1977
Secretary General of UNIP
In office 1978–1981
Zambian Ambassador to China
In office 1984–1989
Zambian Ambassador to France
In office 1989–1992
Personal details
Born	Sikaye Chingula Namukamba ( 1930-01-21)21 January 1930  Nampeyo, near Monze, Northern Rhodesia
Died	11 December 2001(2001-12-11) (aged 71)  Milpark Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa
Nationality	Zambian
Spouse	Yolanta Mainza (m. 1953)

Mainza Mathias Chona (born 21 January 1930 – died 11 December 2001) was an important Zambian politician and diplomat. He served as the third Vice President of Zambia from 1970 to 1973. He was also the Prime Minister of Zambia two times: from 1973 to 1975 and again from 1977 to 1978.

Chona was the Secretary General of the United National Independence Party (UNIP). This was the main political party in Zambia for many years. From 1978 to 1981, this role was almost like being the second-in-command in Zambian politics.

He held many other government jobs too. These included Justice Minister, Home Affairs Minister, and Minister of Legal Affairs. He also worked as Zambia's Ambassador to countries like China and France.

Early Life and School Days

Mainza Chona was born as Sikaye Chingula Namukamba on 21 January 1930. He was born in a place called Nampeyo, near Monze. This was in the Southern Province of what was then Northern Rhodesia. Today, Northern Rhodesia is known as Zambia. His father was Hameja Chilala, also known as Chief Chona.

Mainza went to primary school at Chona out-school and then at Chikuni. At Chikuni, he became a Catholic. He finished high school at Munali Secondary School in Lusaka in 1951. After school, he worked as an interpreter at the High Court. But his dream was to become a lawyer.

In 1955, Chona received a scholarship to study law in London, England. He studied at Gray's Inn and became a lawyer in 1958. While in England, he met other African leaders like Harry Nkumbula and Kenneth Kaunda. This is also when he officially changed his name to Mathias Mainza Chona.

Fighting for Independence

Chona came back to Northern Rhodesia in December 1958. At that time, the Central African Federation (CAF) had been formed. This was a group of countries controlled by White leaders. Many Black people, including Kaunda, wanted independence.

Kaunda later started a new political party called the Zambia African National Congress (ZANC). This party wanted independence right away. Because ZANC was very active, its leaders were arrested, and the party was banned.

Chona then joined the United National Independence Party (UNIP). This party was formed after ZANC was banned. In October 1959, Chona became the first president of UNIP. However, he stepped down when Kaunda was released from prison in January 1960. Chona became Kaunda's loyal helper and was elected deputy president of UNIP.

He worked as UNIP's representative in London for over a year. He also helped UNIP and the ANC form a short-term partnership in 1963. In January 1964, Kenneth Kaunda formed Northern Rhodesia's first Black government. Chona was given the important job of Minister of Justice.

After Zambia Became Independent

Zambia gained independence in October 1964. Kaunda then made Chona the Minister of Home Affairs. Between 1966 and 1969, Chona held several different ministerial jobs. In 1969, he was sent to the United States as Zambia's ambassador.

In 1970, he returned to Zambia and was appointed as the country's Vice-President.

One of Chona's most important contributions was the "Chona Commission." This group was set up in 1972. Its job was to suggest how Zambia's constitution should work as a 'one-party participatory democracy.' This meant Zambia would have only one main political party. The Commission held public meetings and gave its report in October 1972. Many people thought its ideas were very fair and open-minded.

The Second Republic and Later Roles

In December 1972, Zambia officially became a one-party state, called the Second Republic. The new constitution was approved in August 1973. It made the UNIP party the most powerful. However, some of the Chona Commission's more open-minded ideas were not included. For example, there were no limits on how long a president could serve.

From 1973 to 1975, Chona became the Prime Minister. This was a new position, and it was below the President. He served as Prime Minister again from 1977 to 1978. During this time, he also worked as Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney-General.

In 1978, Kaunda appointed Chona as the Secretary-General of UNIP. This was the second most powerful job in the country. He stayed in this role until 1981. Chona and Kaunda remained close friends and colleagues for many years.

Life as an Ambassador

After leaving the UNIP Central Committee, Chona decided to return to being a private lawyer. However, in 1984, he agreed to become Zambia's ambassador to China. He spent five years in Beijing.

When his time in China ended, he wanted to return home to Zambia. But Kaunda asked him to go to Paris, France, as ambassador. He served there for another three years, from 1989 to 1992.

When he finally came back to Zambia, he again worked as a private lawyer. He was involved in a group called the Oasis Forum. This group successfully stopped President Frederick Chiluba from trying to serve a third term as president.

Mainza Chona was respected in Zambia as a good leader and a loyal supporter of Kaunda. He helped a lot with the organization of UNIP and Zambia's fight for independence. Even though his role in creating a one-party state was debated, his report on the topic was very influential. He was known for not seeking personal wealth from his political jobs.

Chona was also very interested in the Tonga culture, language, and history. He even wrote a novel in the Chitonga language called Kabuca Uleta Tunji. This book won an award in 1956. His daughter, Elizabeth Muyovwe, became a Justice of the Supreme Court of Zambia. His brother, Mark Chona, was also important in Zambian politics.

Mainza Chona passed away on 11 December 2001, in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was buried on 16 December in Monze, Zambia.