Maureen Mwanawasa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maureen K. Mwanawasa
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| 3rd First Lady of Zambia | |
| In role January 2, 2002 – August 19, 2008 |
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| President | Levy Mwanawasa |
| Preceded by | Vera Tembo |
| Succeeded by | Thandiwe Banda |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 28, 1963 Kabwe, Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) |
| Died | August 13, 2024 (aged 61) Lusaka, Zambia |
| Political party | UPND |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Chipokota Mayamba Matola Levy Jr. Lubona Ntembe |
| Alma mater | University of Zambia Edith Cowan University |
| Occupation | Legal practitioner |
Maureen Mwanawasa (born Kakubo; April 28, 1963 – August 13, 2024) was an important Zambian lawyer. She served as the First Lady of Zambia from 2002 to 2008. During her time, she was also involved in many groups. These included the Association of Women Lawyers in the United Kingdom and the Law Association of Zambia Women’s Rights Committee. She also served as Vice Chairperson for Habitat for Humanity, Zambia. Maureen Mwanawasa was a strong supporter of the Breakthrough Cancer Trust and the Child Care & Adoption Society of Zambia.
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Early Life and Education
Maureen Kakubo Mwanawasa was born in Kabwe, Zambia, on April 28, 1963. Her parents were Jeniya Lupumpaula Chilunga Kakabo and Lupumpaula Buluwayo Kakubo. She was the eighth of ten children in her family. She had six brothers and four sisters, including a set of twins.
Maureen started school in 1970 at Raphael Kombe Primary School in Kabwe. In 1976, she went to St. Mary's Secondary School in Livingstone. She finished her studies there in 1981.
Family Life
Maureen Mwanawasa met her future husband, Levy Mwanawasa, in Kabwe. They got married on May 7, 1987. Together, they had four children: three girls and one boy.
Her husband, Levy Mwanawasa, became the President of Zambia. Maureen supported him during his election campaign in 2001. He won the election on December 27, 2001, and became president on January 2, 2002. This made Maureen Mwanawasa the First Lady of Zambia.
Important Work and Recognition
As First Lady, Maureen Mwanawasa became the past president of the Organisation of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS. This group works to fight HIV/AIDS across Africa. In 2002, she also started her own organization called the Maureen Mwanawasa Community Initiative (MMCI). This group aimed to help communities in Zambia.
She also co-owned her husband's law firm, Mwanawasa & Company. However, her husband left his private law practice when he entered politics. In 2006, Maureen Mwanawasa received the International Hope Award from World Vision. This award recognized her efforts to help others.
Maureen Mwanawasa was a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses faith. However, she later became a Baptist Christian.
Political Journey
In May 2016, Maureen Mwanawasa decided to run for a new political role. She announced her plan to become the Executive Mayor of Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia. She ran under the United Party for National Development (UPND) party. The election was held on August 11, 2016.
When she filed her nomination papers, she received support from important people. These included former President Guy Scott and former Members of Parliament. Maureen Mwanawasa made several promises to the people of Lusaka. She said she would work to stop cholera outbreaks and fix water shortages. She also promised to clean up the city's garbage problems. She wanted to create a new system for collecting trash. She believed that a clean city was important for everyone's health and for visitors.
In the Lusaka mayoral election, Maureen Mwanawasa came in second place. The winner was Wilson Kalumba from the Patriotic Front (PF) party. Kalumba received 270,161 votes, while Mwanawasa received 150,807 votes.
Later Life and Passing
Maureen Mwanawasa was the wife of former President Levy Mwanawasa. Her husband passed away while still in office in 2008. She was a mother of four children, including Chipokota Mwanawasa, who is a Zambian lawyer and businessman.
Maureen Mwanawasa passed away on August 13, 2024, in Lusaka. She was 61 years old and had been ill for a short time.
