Prime Minister of Zambia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Prime Minister of the Republic of Zambia
Coat of arms of Zambia
Appointer	President of Zambia
Formation	25 August 1973
First holder	Mainza Chona
Final holder	Malimba Masheke
Abolished	31 August 1991

The prime minister of Zambia was a very important leader in the government of Zambia. This person was like the head of the government. From 1973 to 1975, Mainza Chona was the first person to hold this job after Zambia became independent.

Zambia gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1964. Before that, it was called Northern Rhodesia. Kenneth Kaunda was the only prime minister of Northern Rhodesia in 1964.

The job of prime minister in Zambia was ended in 1991. This happened near the end of President Kaunda's time in office. Since then, the President of Zambia has been both the head of the country and the head of the government.

History of the Prime Minister Role

Northern Rhodesia's Early Days

When the country was a British colony called Northern Rhodesia, a group of elected people formed the Legislative Council. At that time, there was no prime minister. All the power was held by the governor of Northern Rhodesia.

However, the leader of the biggest elected group in the council was seen as an "unofficial" prime minister. Later, Northern Rhodesia joined with Southern Rhodesia and Nyasaland. They formed the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

During this time, a prime minister for the whole Federation was created. Roy Welensky from Northern Rhodesia was the last person to hold this job. After the Federation broke up, the job of prime minister was created for Northern Rhodesia itself.

The first and only prime minister of Northern Rhodesia was Kenneth Kaunda. He was from the United National Independence Party (UNIP). He won the election in 1964, just before Zambia became independent.

Zambia's Prime Ministers

When Northern Rhodesia became the independent country of Zambia, Kaunda became the first president of Zambia. He was elected without anyone running against him. The job of prime minister was then removed.

But in 1973, the country's rules (the Constitution of Zambia) were changed. The job of prime minister was brought back. The prime minister was the head of the government, but they had to report to the Secretary-General of UNIP. This was because UNIP's Central Committee had more power than the Parliament.

President Kaunda chose his former vice-president, Mainza Chona, to be the prime minister. In 1975, Chona left the job, and Elijah Mudenda took over. Chona became prime minister again in 1977 for about a year. Then, Daniel Lisulo took the role.

Kebby Musokotwane became prime minister in 1985, taking over from Nalumino Mundia. Musokotwane was the youngest prime minister. He was also the first who was not part of UNIP's Central Committee. He was removed from his job in 1989.

In 1991, the prime minister's job was ended again. This happened after new rules were made to allow more than one political party. This was agreed upon by UNIP and the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD). The powers of the prime minister went back to the president. The last prime minister, Malimba Masheke, stayed in office until the 1991 election.

List of Prime Ministers

Political parties      United National Independence Party (UNIP)

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Time in Office			Political Party	Head of State
			Started Job	Left Job	How Long
Prime Minister of Northern Rhodesia
1		Kenneth Kaunda (1924–2021)	22 January 1964	24 October 1964	276 days	UNIP	Elizabeth II
Prime Ministers of the Republic of Zambia
Job removed (24 October 1964 – 25 August 1973)							Kenneth Kaunda
1		Mainza Chona (1930–2001)	25 August 1973	27 May 1975	1 year, 275 days	UNIP
2		Elijah Mudenda (1927–2008)	27 May 1975	20 July 1977	2 years, 54 days	UNIP
(1)		Mainza Chona (1930–2001)	20 July 1977	15 June 1978	330 days	UNIP
3		Daniel Lisulo (1930–2000)	15 June 1978	18 February 1981	2 years, 248 days	UNIP
4		Nalumino Mundia (1927–1988)	18 February 1981	24 April 1985	4 years, 65 days	UNIP
5		Kebby Musokotwane (1946–1996)	24 April 1985	15 March 1989	3 years, 325 days	UNIP
6		Malimba Masheke (born 1941)	15 March 1989	31 August 1991	2 years, 169 days	UNIP
Job removed (31 August 1991 – present)

See also

• Governor of Northern Rhodesia
• President of Zambia
• Lists of office-holders