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Rupiah Banda

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Rupiah Banda
Banda in 2010
4th President of Zambia
In office
19 August 2008 – 23 September 2011
Vice PresidentGeorge Kunda
Preceded byLevy Mwanawasa
Succeeded byMichael Sata
10th Vice-President of Zambia
In office
9 October 2006 – 2 November 2008
PresidentLevy Mwanawasa
Preceded byLupando Mwape
Succeeded byGeorge Kunda
Personal details
Born
Rupiah Bwezani Banda

(1937-02-19)19 February 1937
Gwanda, Southern Rhodesia
Died11 March 2022(2022-03-11) (aged 85)
Lusaka, Zambia
Cause of deathColorectal cancer
Resting placeEmbassy Park
15°25′19″S 28°18′34″E / 15.421884°S 28.309314°E / -15.421884; 28.309314
Political partyMovement for Multi-Party Democracy
Spouses
  • Hope Mwansa Makulu
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1966; died 2000)​
  • Thandiwe Banda
Children7
Alma materAddis Ababa University
Lund University
Wolfson College, Cambridge
NicknameRB

Rupiah Bwezani Banda (19 February 1937 – 11 March 2022) was a Zambian politician who served as the fourth president of Zambia from 2008 to 2011, taking over from Levy Mwanawasa. Banda was an active participant in politics from early in the presidency of Kenneth Kaunda, during which time he held several diplomatic posts.

In October 2006, he was appointed the vice-president by Mwanawasa. After Mwanawasa suffered a stroke in June 2008 and died later that year, he became acting president. During the 2008 elections, he narrowly won against opposition leader Michael Sata of the Patriotic Front. He was later defeated in the 2011 election and succeeded by Sata.

Early life

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Banda was born in the town of Miko, Gwanda, Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe); his parents had come from Northern Rhodesia to find employment prior to his birth, and he was sponsored by a local Dutch Reformed Church preacher (and later, the family of B. R. Naik, a family of Indian origin) to continue his education into adulthood.[1] He became involved in politics when he joined the youth wing of the UNIP in 1960.[2] Banda was one of the notable alumni of Rusangu University, Zambia.[3]

Diplomacy

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Rupiah Banda was the UNIP's representative in Northern Europe in the early 1960s[4] and in 1965 he was appointed Zambia's Ambassador to Egypt (the United Arab Republic). While there, he became friends with UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi, and the decision to allow UNITA to open offices in Lusaka at that time has been attributed to Banda's influence.[5] Banda became Ambassador to the United States on 7 April 1967.[6]

He served as Ambassador to the U.S. for about two years, then returned to Zambia to serve as Chief Executive of the Rural Development Corporation for about two years and subsequently as General Manager of the National Agriculture Marketing Board for a similar length of time.

He was then appointed Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and while in this position he also headed the U.N. Council for Namibia.[7] After about a year at the U.N., he was appointed to the Zambian Cabinet as Minister of Foreign Affairs.[4] During his brief stint as Foreign Minister (1975–1976[8]), Banda was occupied by the task of attempting to broker a cease-fire in Angola.[4]

Politics

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Banda was elected as a Member of Parliament for the Munali Constituency in 1978 and lost the seat to Simeon Kampata in 1983. Although he was defeated in the 1988 election, he took the issue to court. He also served for a time as Minister of State for Mines.[4]

In 1991, he was defeated in the Munali Constituency by the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) candidate Ronald Penza. Although he initially intended to run again for the seat in the 1996 election, he supported the UNIP's boycott of the election.[4]

After President Mwanawasa was re-elected in September 2006, he appointed Banda vice-president on 9 October 2006, along with a new cabinet. Following his appointment he subsequently joined the MMD.[9] Banda's appointment was widely viewed as a means of rewarding eastern Zambians for supporting the MMD in the election, as this was the first time that easterners had done so.[10]

Prior to a planned summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in August 2007, Banda was sent by Mwanawasa to improve relations with neighboring Zimbabwe following Mwanawasa's criticism of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.[11]

Presidency

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Acting capacity

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Banda with President of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in 2010
Banda at the 2010 World Economic Forum

After Mwanawasa suffered a stroke while attending an African Union summit in Egypt on 29 June 2008, Banda became acting president.[12] He subsequently delivered a series of optimistic but vague updates on Mwanawasa's health. These updates were greeted with widespread skepticism, but Banda insisted that he had "no reason to lie".[13]

As Vice-President, Banda also acted as the leader of government business in the National Assembly; however, when the National Assembly met on 5 August 2008, following Mwanawasa's stroke, Banda appointed the Minister of Defense, George Mpombo to lead the government's parliamentary business instead.[14]

Mwanawasa never recovered from his stroke and died while still hospitalized in Paris on 19 August 2008. Expressing "immense grief and deep sorrow", Banda announced his death to the nation and declared a seven-day period of national mourning, urging Zambians to "remain calm and mourn our President with dignity".[15] Banda officially took over as acting president prior to a new presidential election, which according to the constitution should be called within 90 days of Mwanawasa's death.[16]

Banda filed an application to stand as the candidate of the MMD on 26 August 2008.[17] On the same day, the MMD in Eastern Province released a statement in support of Banda's candidacy.[17] He had been widely expected to win, and he received 47 votes against 11 for Ng'andu Magande, the Minister of Finance. On this occasion, Banda promised to "unite the party and the entire nation" and to "continue implementing [Mwanawasa's] programs".[18]

Initial results showed Banda's main challenger, Michael Sata of the Patriotic Front (PF), in the lead, but as votes from rural areas were counted, Banda steadily closed the gap and ultimately overtook Sata.[19] Final results on 2 November showed Banda with 40% of the vote against 38% for Sata.[19] Banda was sworn in at State House on the same day, using his speech on the occasion to call for unity; the PF alleged fraud and refused to recognize Banda's victory, while Sata's supporters rioted in Lusaka and Kitwe.[20]

Re-election and defeat

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As President, Rupiah Banda was focused on economic development, traveling abroad to promote Zambian trade to other world leaders. In December 2010 he traveled to Egypt to meet with President Hosni Mubarak.[21]

In mid-2009 it was announced that the MMD National Executive Committee had chosen Banda as the party's candidate for the 2011 presidential election. Some criticized this, arguing that the nomination process should be open to other candidates; Mpombo, the Defense Minister, resigned from his post in July 2009 while criticizing the process as undemocratic. President Banda subsequently welcomed others to challenge him for the nomination at the MMD Conventions taking place across the country.[22]

After taking office, Banda dismantled much of the anti-corruption effort put into place by his predecessor, Mwanawasa.[23]

Michael Sata, leader of the opposition Patriotic Front, defeated Banda in the September 2011 presidential election, ending his three-year presidency.[24]

Later life

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Banda in 2021 with U.S ambassador David Young.

On 15 March 2013, Banda became the second head of state in Zambian history to have his presidential immunity revoked.[25] This was due to accusations of abuse of authority, corruption, and the misappropriation of oil revenue by Sata.[25]

Death

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Banda died at home in Lusaka from colon cancer on 11 March 2022, at the age of 85.[7][26][27][28] After his death, the Zambian government announced seven days of national mourning with flags half-masted.[29][30] and Namibia announced three days of mourning.[31][32]

Family

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Rupiah Banda married his first wife, Hope Mwansa Makulu (29 August 1939 – 11 October 2000), in 1966 and the couple had three sons together.[33] Makulu died in South Africa, at the age of 61.[33] She was buried in Leopards Hill Cemetery.[33]

His second wife, Thandiwe Banda, a political science teacher, was more than thirty years younger than Banda.[34][35] Thandiwe Banda served as the First Lady of Zambia during his presidency from 2008 to 2011.[35]

References

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  1. ^ "I Am Overwhelmed By the Appointment, Says Banda". www.webrtcworld.com. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  2. ^ "RB visits birth place in Zimbabwe". Lusaka Times. 1 May 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  3. ^ "President Rupiah Banda Awarded Honorary Doctorate". African Business Review. 5 May 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e "I Am Overwhelmed By the Appointment, Says Banda", Sunday Post (tmcnet.com), 10 October 2006.
  5. ^ Sellstr̀eom, Tor. Sweden and National Liberation in Southern Africa, 2002. Page 404.
  6. ^ Diplomatic List, 1967, U.S. Department of State.
  7. ^ a b "Zambia's ex-President Rupiah Banda dead at 85". DW.com. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  8. ^ "President Rupiah Bwezani Banda". State House. The President of the Republic of Zambia. 26 January 2010. Archived from the original (web.archive.org) on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  9. ^ "Zambian VP to lead ruling party", BBC News, 5 September 2008.
  10. ^ Shacinda, Shapi (9 October 2006). "Mwanawasa warns challenger, names new cabinet". IOL. www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  11. ^ "Zambian leader 'wants to make up with Mugabe'". www.iol.co.za. 1 August 2007. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  12. ^ James Butty, "Zambian President Has Had a History of Hypertension, Says Information Minister", VOA News, 2 July 2008.
  13. ^ "Mwanawasa's condition 'promising'". www.iol.co.za. Sapa-AFP. 25 July 2008. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  14. ^ "Zambian parliament meets". www.iol.co.za. Sapa-Associated Press. 5 August 2008. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  15. ^ "STATEMENT BY HIS HONOUR THE VICE PRESIDENT, MR. RUPIAH BANDA, MP., ON THE DEATH OF THE PRESIDENT" Archived 24 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Zambian Presidency website, 18 August 2008.
  16. ^ Shacinda, Shapi (20 August 2008). "Zambian VP takes charge, will call fresh polls". Reuters. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  17. ^ a b "Four File for Presidency", The Times of Zambia, Ndola (allAfrica.com), 27 August 2008.
  18. ^ "Zambia's ruling party picks candidate". www.iol.co.za. Sapa-AFP. 5 September 2008. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  19. ^ a b "Zambia election: Banda accepts defeat to Michael Sata". BBC News. 23 September 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  20. ^ "Zambia: Banda sworn in, riots spread". IOL. Sapa-DPA. 2 November 2008. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  21. ^ Zambia eyes Egyptian investment – Economy – Business – Ahram Online. English.ahram.org.eg (30 December 2010). Retrieved on 21 June 2011.
  22. ^ "I'm ready to be challenged, says Banda". Lusaka Times. 10 January 2011. Archived from the original (web.archive.org) on 13 January 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  23. ^ Bearak, Barry (20 June 2011). "Frederick Chiluba, Former President of Zambia, Dies at 68". The New York Times.
  24. ^ Mfula, Chris; Dzirutwe, MacDonald (23 September 2011). "Zambia's "King Cobra" Sata sworn in as president". Reuters. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  25. ^ a b "Zambia strips ex-president of immunity from prosecution". Reuters. 15 March 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  26. ^ "Zambia's former president Rupiah Banda dies aged 85". National Post/Reuters. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  27. ^ Mfula, Chris (12 March 2022). "Zambia's former president Rupiah Banda dies aged 85". Reuters. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  28. ^ "Rupiah Banda, Who Ruled Zambia for Three Years, Dies at 85". Bloomberg.com. 11 March 2022.
  29. ^ "Zambia declares mourning after the death of former president". Associated Press. 14 March 2022.
  30. ^ "Zambia : Zambia declares seven days national mourning in honour of the late Fourth President". 12 March 2022.
  31. ^ "Zambia : Namibia declares 3 day national mourning for RB". 17 March 2022.
  32. ^ "Namibia declares mourning period for late Zambian leader". 29 May 2023.
  33. ^ a b c "President Banda pays tribute to late wife". Lusaka Times. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  34. ^ "Thandiwe narrates how she married Rupiah". The Post (Zambia). 21 May 2010. Archived from the original on 18 August 2010. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  35. ^ a b "'I cant divorce Thandiwe i love her' Niwenye Tyala Balankula says Rupiah Banda". Zibani Zambia. 21 August 2012. Archived from the original on 13 September 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
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Political offices
Preceded by Vice-President of Zambia
2006–2008 		Succeeded by
Preceded by President of Zambia
2008–2011 		Succeeded by
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