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'''Vernon Johnson Mwaanga''' (born 1939) is a Zambian diplomat and politician.<ref name=HDZ>{{cite book|editor-first=David J.|editor-last=Simon|editor2-first=James R.|editor2-last=Pletcher|editor3-first=Brian V.|editor3-last=Siegel|title=Historical Dictionary of Zambia|series=African Historical Dictionaries|volume=106|location=Metuchen, New Jersey|publisher=Scarecrow Press|edition=3rd|year=2008|isbn=978-0-8108-5305-8|contribution=Mwaanda, Vernon Johnson|pages=314–6}}</ref>
{{Featured article}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Vernon Mwaanga
| image = Vernon Mwaanga.jpg
| caption = Portrait of Vernon Mwaanga, [[ZANIS]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1944|6|25}}
| birth_place = [[Choma District]], Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia)
| nationality = [[Zambia]]n
| occupation = [[Diplomat]], [[Politician]], [[Author]]
| party = [[United National Independence Party]] (UNIP), later [[Movement for Multi-Party Democracy]] (MMD)
| offices_held =  
* [[Minister of Foreign Affairs]]
* [[Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services]]
* Ambassador to the Soviet Union
* Ambassador to the United Nations
}}


==Early life==
'''Vernon Johnson Mwaanga''' (born 25 June 1944) is a Zambian veteran [[diplomat]], [[politician]] and [[author]]. He played a key role in Zambia’s post-independence foreign policy and was instrumental in shaping the country’s media and international relations.
Born near [[Choma]], Mwaanga studied political science and international relations in the [[United Kingdom]]. In October 1964 he became Zambia's first diplomat, as deputy high commissioner in [[London]]. He was ambassador to Moscow in 1965, before returning to Zambia for two years, handling negotiations with [[Rhodesia]] as the president's permanent secretary. From 1966 to January 1972 Mwangaa was ambassador to the [[United Nations]]. In 1972 he was appointed editor of the ''[[Times of Zambia]]''. From 1973 to 1975 he was [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Zambia)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]]. In 1976 he left politics for the private sector. In 1980 he became chairman of the new Zambian subsidiary of the [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International]]. As chairman of the [[Zambia Industrial and Commercial Association]] (ZINCOM), a consortium of entrepreneurs, he published criticisms of the government.  Arrested on charges involving the alleged smuggling of Mandrax in 1985, he resigned the chairmanship of BCCI-Zambia, although the charges were never proven and he was released without trial in April 1986.<ref name=HDZ/>


Mwaanga was a founding member of the [[Movement for Multi-Party Democracy]], and after the party's victory in the [[Zambian general election, 1991|1991 elections]] served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1991 to 1994.<ref name=HDZ/> He was Minister of Information from 1999 to 2002. After the [[Zambian general election, 2006|2006 elections]] he was reinstated as Minister of Information until his resignation in April 2007 over video footage showing him supporting [[breach-of-contract]] claims being made by a [[Democratic Republic of the Congo|Congolese]] governor against the Zambian government.<ref name=HDZ/>
==Early life and education==
Mwaanga was born in [[Choma District]] in 1944. He studied political science and international relations abroad, including at universities in the United States and the United Kingdom.
 
==Diplomatic career==
At just 21, Vernon Mwaanga became one of the youngest ambassadors in the world when he was appointed [[Zambia's first]] Ambassador to the Soviet Union in 1965. He later served as Zambia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and was also posted to Western Europe.
 
==Ministerial roles==
Mwaanga served multiple times as Zambia’s [[Minister of Foreign Affairs]], first under President [[Kenneth Kaunda]] and later under President [[Frederick Chiluba]]. He was also [[Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services]], where he influenced national media policy and development.
 
==Multi-party democracy==
Mwaanga was a founding member of the [[Movement for Multi-Party Democracy]] (MMD), which challenged and defeated UNIP in the historic [[1991 general election]]. He remained a key adviser and minister in the Chiluba administration during the 1990s.
 
==Controversies==
Mwaanga was named in various political controversies, including alleged interference in media independence and questions about electoral integrity. Despite these, he remained a respected elder statesman and voice in Zambian politics.
 
==Writing and commentary==
Vernon Mwaanga is also known for his memoirs and political writings. His most well-known book, ''[[An Extraordinary Life (book)|An Extraordinary Life]]'', provides an insider's account of Zambia’s foreign policy and political developments over several decades.


==Books==
==Books==
*''An Extraordinary Life'', Multimedia Publications, 1982. No ISBN  
*''[[An Extraordinary Life (book)|An Extraordinary Life]]'', Multimedia Publications, 1982. No ISBN  
*''The Other Society : A Detainee’s Diary'', Fleetfoot Pub. Co., c1986. No ISBN  
*''[[The Other Society: A Detainee’s Diary (book)|The Other Society: A Detainee’s Diary]]'', Fleetfoot Pub. Co., c1986. No ISBN  
*''The Long Sunset : My Reflections'', Fleetfoot Pub. Co., 2008. ISBN 9982-8510-0-4
*''[[The Long Sunset: My Reflections (book))|The Long Sunset: My Reflections]]'', Fleetfoot Pub. Co., 2008. ISBN 9982-8510-0-4
 
==See also==
* [[Kenneth Kaunda]]
* [[Frederick Chiluba]]
* [[Movement for Multi-Party Democracy]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
* [https://www.lusakatimes.com/2008/09/22/mwaanga-blasts-media/ Lusaka Times – Mwaanga on Zambian media]
* [https://www.zambianobserver.com/mwaanga-reacts-to-election-dispute/ Zambian Observer – Mwaanga comments on elections]
* [https://www.africanlibraryproject.org/the-story-of-vernon-mwaanga/ African Library Project]
* Mwaanga, V. (2003). 'An Extraordinary Life'. Bookworld Publishers, Lusaka.


[[Category:1939 births]]
[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:People of Zambia]]
[[Category:Zambian diplomats]]
[[Category:Zambian diplomats]]
[[Category:Permanent Representatives of Zambia to the United Nations]]
[[Category:Foreign ministers of Zambia]]
[[Category:Government ministers of Zambia]]
[[Category:Zambian writers]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of Zambia]]
[[Category:Politicians]]
[[Category:Politicians]]
[[Category:Members of the National Assembly of Zambia]]
[[Category:Movement for Multi-Party Democracy politicians]]
[[Category:Movement for Multi-Party Democracy politicians]]
[[Category:Foreign Ministers of Zambia]]
[[Category:Zambian Ambassadors]]
 
[[Category:Government ministers of Zambia]]
 
{{Zambia-politician-stub}}

Latest revision as of 05:58, 31 May 2025

Vernon Mwaanga
Portrait of Vernon Mwaanga, ZANIS
Office
Term start
Term end
Predecessor
Successor
Nationality Zambian
Political party United National Independence Party (UNIP), later Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD)
Residence
Occupation Diplomat, Politician, Author


Vernon Johnson Mwaanga (born 25 June 1944) is a Zambian veteran diplomat, politician and author. He played a key role in Zambia’s post-independence foreign policy and was instrumental in shaping the country’s media and international relations.

Early life and education

Mwaanga was born in Choma District in 1944. He studied political science and international relations abroad, including at universities in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Diplomatic career

At just 21, Vernon Mwaanga became one of the youngest ambassadors in the world when he was appointed Zambia's first Ambassador to the Soviet Union in 1965. He later served as Zambia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and was also posted to Western Europe.

Ministerial roles

Mwaanga served multiple times as Zambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, first under President Kenneth Kaunda and later under President Frederick Chiluba. He was also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, where he influenced national media policy and development.

Multi-party democracy

Mwaanga was a founding member of the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD), which challenged and defeated UNIP in the historic 1991 general election. He remained a key adviser and minister in the Chiluba administration during the 1990s.

Controversies

Mwaanga was named in various political controversies, including alleged interference in media independence and questions about electoral integrity. Despite these, he remained a respected elder statesman and voice in Zambian politics.

Writing and commentary

Vernon Mwaanga is also known for his memoirs and political writings. His most well-known book, An Extraordinary Life, provides an insider's account of Zambia’s foreign policy and political developments over several decades.

Books

See also

References

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