View source for Prime Ministers of Zambia

{{Short description|Former head of government in Zambia}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox official post
|post            = Prime Minister
|body            = the<br />Republic of Zambia
|insignia        = Coat of arms of Zambia.svg
|insigniasize    = 125px
|insigniacaption = Coat of arms of Zambia
|image           = 
|imagesize       = 120px
|imagecaption    = 
|style           = 
|residence       = 
|appointer       = [[President of Zambia]]
|appointer_qualified = 
|precursor      = 
|formation      = 25 August 1973
|first          = [[Mainza Chona]]
|last           = [[Malimba Masheke]]
|abolished      = 31 August 1991
|succession     = 
|salary         = 
}}
{{Politics of Zambia}}

The '''prime minister of Zambia''' was the [[head of government]] of [[Zambia]]. From 1973 to 1975, [[Mainza Chona]] was the first person to hold the position following [[Zambia Independence Act 1964|independence]] from the [[United Kingdom]] ([[Kenneth Kaunda]] was the only prime minister of [[Northern Rhodesia]] in 1964, before it became independent as Zambia).

The position of the prime minister of Zambia was abolished in 1991, in the last months of Kaunda's presidential term. Since then, the [[President of Zambia]] serves as both the [[head of state]] and the [[head of government]].

==History==

===Northern Rhodesia===
When the country was founded as the British colony of [[Northern Rhodesia]] separate from [[British South Africa Company]] [[Company rule in Rhodesia|rule in the Rhodesias]], the elected Legislative Council was created. At the time, the office of prime minister did not exist, with all executive power being vested in the [[governor of Northern Rhodesia]]. However, the leader of the largest elected party on the council was considered as the "unofficial" prime minister.<ref>{{cite web | title=Settlers press for power | website=The Observer |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription 
| date=1953-01-25 | url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/258340146/?terms=%22prime%20minister%20of%20northern%20rhodesia%22&match=1  | access-date=2021-07-26}}</ref> When Northern Rhodesia united with [[Southern Rhodesia]] and [[Nyasaland]] to form the [[Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland]], the office of [[Prime Minister of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland|prime minister of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland]] was created, with Northern Rhodesia's [[Roy Welensky]] becoming the second and final holder of the office. Following the breakup of the federation due to the withdrawal of Northern Rhodesia, the office of prime minister was created for the colony. The first and only prime minister of Northern Rhodesia was the [[United National Independence Party]]'s (UNIP) [[Kenneth Kaunda]] after winning the [[1964 Northern Rhodesian general election|1964 general election]] ahead of independence.<ref>{{cite web | title=Northern Rhodesia names Prime Minister | via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription  |work=The Journal Times| date=1964-01-23 | url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/342456103/?terms=%22prime+minister+of+northern+rhodesia%22&match=1 | access-date=2021-07-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Northern Rhodesia elevates Nationalist to Prime Minister |work=Gazette and Daily | via=Newspapers.com | date=1964-01-23 | url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/386751131/?terms=%22prime+minister+of+northern+rhodesia%22&match=1 |url-access=subscription | access-date=2021-07-26}}</ref>

===Zambia===
Upon independence and the renaming of the country as Zambia, Kaunda became the new [[president of Zambia]] after being elected unopposed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/255845822/?terms=%22prime+minister+of+northern+rhodesia%22&match=1|title=Kenneth David Kaunda  |work=The Ithaca Journal |via=Newspapers.com |date=2003-05-06 |accessdate=2021-07-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/391393016/?terms=%22Prime+minister%22+kaunda+%22northern+rhodesia%22&match=1|title=Another new African country: This Is Zambia|work=The Gazette and Daily |via=Newspapers.com |date=1964-11-03 |accessdate=2021-07-26}}</ref> The office of prime minister was abolished accordingly.<ref>{{Cite book |first=Spencer |last=Brown |title=The Journal of Developing Areas |volume=2 |publisher=Western Illinois University |year=1967 |page=483 |asin=B000LL6FJ8}}</ref> In 1973, following an amendment to the [[Constitution of Zambia]], the office of prime minister was re-established as the titular head of the government but the holder would be subordinate to the Secretary-General of UNIP in governing Zambia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/259874587/?terms=Chona+%22prime+minister%22+zambia&match=1|title=10 Ministers join Zambia's "Politburo" |work=The Guardian |via=Newspapers.com |date=1973-08-27 |accessdate=2021-07-26|url-access=subscription}}</ref> This was because the Central Committee of UNIP had precedence over the [[Parliament of Zambia]] under the Constitution.<ref name=lat /> President Kaunda appointed his former [[Vice-President of Zambia|vice-president]], [[Mainza Chona]], as prime minister.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/721778228/?terms=Chona+%22prime+minister%22+zambia&match=1|title=News in Brief |work=Evening Standard  |via=Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription |date=1973-08-28 |accessdate=2021-07-26}}</ref> In 1975, Chona resigned and was replaced by [[Elijah Mudenda]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/259766378/?terms=mudenda+%22prime+minister%22+zambia&match=1|title=Palme may call early election  |work=The Guardian |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |date=1975-05-28 |accessdate=2021-07-26}}</ref> In 1977, Chona became prime minister again for a year before the role was taken over by [[Daniel Lisulo]].<ref>{{cite book |first=Harris |last=Lentz |title=Heads of States and Government since 1945 |page=2003 |year=2014 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781134264971}}</ref> [[Kebby Musokotwane]] took the role over from [[Nalumino Mundia]] in 1985, becoming the youngest prime minister and also the first that was not a member of UNIP's Central Committee.<ref name=lat>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-04-17-ga-155-story.html|title=Old Friend From Zambia Is Now the Prime Minister|date=April 17, 1986|work=Los Angeles Times |url-access=subscription}}</ref> He was removed in 1989 and given an overseas diplomatic post due to President Kaunda believing he was aiming to become the next president.<ref name=as>{{cite book |page=1143 |first=Katherine |last=Murison |title=Africa South of the Sahara 2003 |publisher=Psychology Press |year=2002 |isbn=9781857431315}}</ref>

In 1991, the office was abolished again following a new constitution being created to allow for multi-party democratic elections following UNIP negotiations with the [[Movement for Multi-Party Democracy]] (MMD).<ref name=as /> The powers the prime minister had were subsumed back into the office of president.<ref name=con>{{Cite web |url=https://publicofficialsfinancialdisclosure.worldbank.org/sites/fdl/files/assets/law-library-files/Zambia_Constitution_1991_en.pdf |title=Zambia Constitution 1991 |publisher=World Bank |accessdate=2021-06-26}}</ref> The constitution allowed for the final prime minister, [[Malimba Masheke]], to remain in office until the [[1991 Zambian general election]].<ref name=con /> According to Masheke, at the time of abolition the prime minister was being paid less than his private secretary.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.themastonline.com/2018/09/11/my-ps-used-to-get-more-money-than-myself-when-i-was-prime-minister-reveals-masheke/ |title="My PS used to get more money than myself when I was Prime Minister" reveals Masheke |work=The Mast |date=2018-09-11 |accessdate=2021-07-26}}</ref>

==List of officeholders==
'''Political parties'''
{{legend|{{party color|United National Independence Party}}|[[United National Independence Party]] (UNIP)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! rowspan="2" |{{Abbr|No.|Number}}
! rowspan="2" style="width:80px;" |Portrait
! rowspan="2" width="150" |Name<br />{{small|(Birth–Death)}}
! colspan="3" |Term of office
! rowspan="2" |Political party
! rowspan="2" |Head of state
|-
! Took office
! Left office
! Time in office
|-
! colspan="8"| Prime Minister of [[Northern Rhodesia]]
|-
! style="background:{{party color|United National Independence Party}}; color:white;"| 1
| [[File:Kenneth David Kaunda.jpg|100px]]
| [[Kenneth Kaunda]]<br />{{small|(1924–[[State funeral of Kenneth Kaunda|2021]])}}
| 22 January 1964
| 24 October 1964
| {{Age in years and days|1964|1|22|1964|10|24}}
| [[United National Independence Party|UNIP]]
| [[Elizabeth II]]
|-
! colspan="8" | Prime Ministers of the [[Zambia|Republic of Zambia]]
|-
| colspan="7" | Post abolished (24 October 1964 – 25 August 1973)
| rowspan="8" | [[Kenneth Kaunda]]
|-
! style="background:{{party color|United National Independence Party}}; color:white;"| 1
| [[File:No image.png|100px]]
| [[Mainza Chona]]<br />{{small|(1930–2001)}}
| 25 August 1973
| 27 May 1975
| {{Age in years and days|1973|8|25|1975|5|27}}
| [[United National Independence Party|UNIP]]
|-
! style="background:{{party color|United National Independence Party}}; color:white;"| 2
| [[File:No image.png|100px]]
| [[Elijah Mudenda]]<br />{{small|(1927–2008)}}
| 27 May 1975
| 20 July 1977
| {{Age in years and days|1975|5|27|1977|7|20}}
| [[United National Independence Party|UNIP]]
|-
! style="background:{{party color|United National Independence Party}}; color:white;"| {{small|(1)}}
| [[File:No image.png|100px]]
| [[Mainza Chona]]<br />{{small|(1930–2001)}}
| 20 July 1977
| 15 June 1978
| {{Age in years and days|1977|7|20|1978|6|15}}
| [[United National Independence Party|UNIP]]
|-
! style="background:{{party color|United National Independence Party}}; color:white;"| 3
| [[File:No image.png|100px]]
| [[Daniel Lisulo]]<br />{{small|(1930–2000)}}
| 15 June 1978
| 18 February 1981
| {{Age in years and days|1978|6|15|1981|2|18}}
| [[United National Independence Party|UNIP]]
|-
! style="background:{{party color|United National Independence Party}}; color:white;"| 4
| [[File:No image.png|100px]]
| [[Nalumino Mundia]]<br />{{small|(1927–1988)}}
| 18 February 1981
| 24 April 1985
| {{Age in years and days|1981|2|18|1985|4|24}}
| [[United National Independence Party|UNIP]]
|-
! style="background:{{party color|United National Independence Party}}; color:white;"| 5
| [[File:No image.png|100px]]
| [[Kebby Musokotwane]]<br />{{small|(1946–1996)}}
| 24 April 1985
| 15 March 1989
| {{Age in years and days|1985|4|24|1989|3|15}}
| [[United National Independence Party|UNIP]]
|-
! style="background:{{party color|United National Independence Party}}; color:white;"| 6
| [[File:No image.png|100px]]
| [[Malimba Masheke]]<br />{{small|(born 1941)}}
| 15 March 1989
| 31 August 1991
| {{Age in years and days|1989|3|15|1991|8|31}}
| [[United National Independence Party|UNIP]]
|- 
| colspan="8" | Post abolished (31 August 1991 – present)
|}

==Timeline==
{{#tag:timeline|
ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:21
PlotArea  = top:10 bottom:80 right:150 left:20
AlignBars = late

Define $today = {{#time:d/m/Y}}

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  id:unip value:rgb(0.07,0.55,0) legend:United_National_Independence_Party

  id:gray1  value:gray(0.85)
  id:gray2  value:gray(0.95)

DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period     = from:01/01/1964 till:01/01/1992
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal
ScaleMajor = gridcolor:gray1 unit:year increment:5 start:1965
ScaleMinor = gridcolor:gray2 unit:year increment:1 start:1964

Legend     = columns:1 left:150 top:35 columnwidth:170
 
TextData =
  pos:(20,38) textcolor:black fontsize:M
  text:"Political party:"

BarData =
 bar:Kaunda
 bar:Chona
 bar:Mudenda
 bar:Lisulo
 bar:Mundia
 bar:Musokotwane
 bar:Masheke

PlotData =
  width:5 align:left fontsize:9 shift:(5,-4) anchor:till

 bar:Kaunda
  from: 22/01/1964 till: 24/10/1964 color:unip text:"[[Kenneth Kaunda]]"
 bar:Chona
  from: 25/08/1973 till: 27/05/1975 color:unip
  from: 20/07/1977 till: 15/06/1978 color:unip text:"[[Mainza Chona]]"
 bar:Mudenda
  from: 27/05/1975 till: 20/07/1977 color:unip text:"[[Elijah Mudenda]]"
 bar:Lisulo
  from: 15/06/1978 till: 18/02/1981 color:unip text:"[[Daniel Lisulo]]"
 bar:Mundia
  from: 18/02/1981 till: 24/04/1985 color:unip text:"[[Nalumino Mundia]]"
 bar:Musokotwane
  from: 24/04/1985 till: 15/03/1989 color:unip text:"[[Kebby Musokotwane]]"
 bar:Masheke
  from: 15/03/1989 till: 31/08/1991 color:unip text:"[[Malimba Masheke]]"

}}

==See also==
* [[Governor of Northern Rhodesia]]
* [[President of Zambia]]
* [[Lists of office-holders]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Zambia.html World Statesmen – Zambia]

{{Prime ministers of Zambia}}
{{Zambia topics}}
{{Heads of state and government of Africa}}
{{Prime Minister}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Prime Minister Of Zambia}}
[[Category:Lists of prime ministers by country|Zambia, Prime Minister of]]
[[Category:Prime Ministers of Zambia|*]]
[[Category:Lists of political office-holders in Zambia|Prime Ministers]]
[[Category:1964 establishments in Northern Rhodesia]]
[[Category:1964 disestablishments in Zambia]]
[[Category:1973 establishments in Zambia]]
[[Category:1991 disestablishments in Africa]]