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'''Wesley Pillsbury Nyirenda''' (23 January 1924 – 7 July 1993) was a [[Zambia]]n [[politician]], [[educator]] and [[diplomat]]. He served as Zambia’s first elected [[Speaker of the National Assembly]] from 1964 to 1968 and also represented Fort Jameson (now [[Chipata]] as a [[Member of Parliament]] until 1973 before the Seat abolished and split into Chipata East, Chipata North and Chipata West. Later, he was President of the [[National Olympic Committee of Zambia]] (NOCZ) from 1968 to 1975.
'''Wesley Pillsbury Nyirenda''' (23 January 1924 – 7 July 1993) was a [[Zambia]]n [[politician]], [[educator]] and [[diplomat]]. He served as Zambia’s first elected [[Speaker of the National Assembly]] from 1964 to 1968 and also represented Fort Jameson (now [[Chipata]] as a [[Member of Parliament]] until 1973 before the Seat abolished and split into Chipata East, Chipata North and Chipata West. Later, he was President of the [[National Olympic Committee of Zambia]] (NOCZ) from 1968 to 1975.


==Career & Education ==
==Early life and education==
Educated at Lubwa Mission School, then went to South Africa to the Pholela Institution, Natal, where he was awarded a scholarship in 1948 for medicine at Witwatersrand University. He had to refuse it in order to earn money as a teacher to pay for the schooling of his brothers. But he continued his studies in his spare time, gaining his BA and a post-graduate diploma of education from London University.
Born on 23 January 1924, Nyirenda attended [[Lubwa Mission School]] in [[Chinsali]] and later studied in South Africa at Pholela Institution. Although offered a scholarship for medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand in 1948, he declined and instead pursued studies part-time as he needed to continue working as a teacher to support his family. He earned a BA and a postgraduate diploma in education from the University of London.


After five years of teaching he became headmaster at Kitwe Main School in 1953, then principal of Ndola Secondary School from 1957 to 1961, when he was appointed principal of Monze Secondary School. He was an education officer in 1961 and then entered Parliament. Early in 1964 he was appointed Deputy Speaker and promoted Speaker in the independence Parliament. Four years later he was brought into the cabinet as Education Minister. While promoting a big expansion of the education programme in his first four years at the Ministry he maintained the high standards for which he was noted as a headmaster.
He began his career as a teacher, serving as headmaster in [[Kitwe]] in 1953, principal of [[Ndola Secondary School]] (1957–1961), and later of [[Monze Secondary School]]. He joined the civil service as an education officer in 1961 before entering Parliament.


===[[National Olympic Committee of Zambia|NOCZ]] President (1968-1975)===
==Political and parliamentary career==
Wesley was the first indigenous Zambian to head the National Olympic Committee of Zambia after George Crane in 1968. During his time as President, Zambia participated in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany (West Germany by then). Team Zambia consisted of 11 Athletes from two sports disciplines (Athletics and Boxing). The Country participated for the first time as Zambia in the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland. Zambia sent a team of 32 from four Sports disciplines, namely Athletics (16), Boxing (9), Lawn bowls (4), Weightlifting (3), the team won four medals (two silver and two bronze). Zambia also made an appearance at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand with a team of 16 Athletes from five sports disciplines (Athletics, Boxing, Cycling Road, Lawn Bowls and Weightlifting).
In early 1964, Nyirenda was appointed First Deputy Speaker and shortly thereafter became the first [[Speaker of the National Assembly]] of independent [[Zambia]], succeeding Thomas Williams. Unlike later speakers, he remained an elected [[Member of Parliament]] for Fort Jameson while holding the speakership.


== References ==
He served as both MP and Speaker until his resignation from the latter in 1968. He remained the MP for Fort Jameson until the seat was reorganized in 1973.
 
==Role in sports administration==
From 1968, Nyirenda became the first indigenous President of the [[National Olympic Committee of Zambia]], following George Crane. Under his leadership, Zambia participated for the first time as an independent nation in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany ((West Germany by then)) and the Commonwealth Games of 1970 and 1974.
 
The Zambian team consisted of 11 Athletes from two sports disciplines (Athletics and Boxing). The Country participated for the first time as Zambia in the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland. Zambia sent a team of 32 from four Sports disciplines, namely Athletics (16), Boxing (9), Lawn bowls (4), Weightlifting (3), the team won four medals (two silver and two bronze).
 
Zambia also made an appearance at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand with a team of 16 Athletes from five sports disciplines (Athletics, Boxing, Cycling Road, Lawn Bowls and Weightlifting).
 
==See also==
* [[Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia]]
* [[Robinson Nabulyato]]
* [[Education in Zambia]]
 
==References==
<references>
<ref>“Wesley Nyirenda” – Chalo Chatu online encyclopedia, article text. Retrieved from *Wesley_Nyirenda*, Chalo Chatu.</ref>
<ref>“Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia” – Wikipedia article history section. Retrieved July 2025.</ref>
<ref>Ng’ona Mwela Chibesakunda (2001), *The Parliament of Zambia*, p26; list of Speakers. Retrieved via *Speaker_of_the_National_Assembly_of_Zambia*.</ref>
<ref>“Robinson Nabulyato” – Wikipedia, successor and predecessor context. Retrieved July 2025.</ref>
<ref>“Role in Olympic Committee” – Olympedia profile on Nyirenda. Retrieved July 2025.</ref>
</references>


[[Category:1924 births]]
[[Category:1924 births]]
[[Category:1993 deaths]]
[[Category:Speakers of the National Assembly]]
[[Category:Speakers of the National Assembly]]
[[Category:Zambian educators]]


{{Zambian Speakers}}
{{Zambian Speakers}}

Latest revision as of 08:48, 5 August 2025

Wesley Pillsbury Nyirenda
Nyirenda after arrival a Lod airport for inauguration of the new Knesset Building in 1966.
Office 1st Speaker of the National Assembly
Term start 1964
Term end 1968
Predecessor Thomas Williams
Successor Robinson Nabulyato
Nationality
Political party
Residence
Occupation


Wesley Pillsbury Nyirenda (23 January 1924 – 7 July 1993) was a Zambian politician, educator and diplomat. He served as Zambia’s first elected Speaker of the National Assembly from 1964 to 1968 and also represented Fort Jameson (now Chipata as a Member of Parliament until 1973 before the Seat abolished and split into Chipata East, Chipata North and Chipata West. Later, he was President of the National Olympic Committee of Zambia (NOCZ) from 1968 to 1975.

Early life and education

Born on 23 January 1924, Nyirenda attended Lubwa Mission School in Chinsali and later studied in South Africa at Pholela Institution. Although offered a scholarship for medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand in 1948, he declined and instead pursued studies part-time as he needed to continue working as a teacher to support his family. He earned a BA and a postgraduate diploma in education from the University of London.

He began his career as a teacher, serving as headmaster in Kitwe in 1953, principal of Ndola Secondary School (1957–1961), and later of Monze Secondary School. He joined the civil service as an education officer in 1961 before entering Parliament.

Political and parliamentary career

In early 1964, Nyirenda was appointed First Deputy Speaker and shortly thereafter became the first Speaker of the National Assembly of independent Zambia, succeeding Thomas Williams. Unlike later speakers, he remained an elected Member of Parliament for Fort Jameson while holding the speakership.

He served as both MP and Speaker until his resignation from the latter in 1968. He remained the MP for Fort Jameson until the seat was reorganized in 1973.

Role in sports administration

From 1968, Nyirenda became the first indigenous President of the National Olympic Committee of Zambia, following George Crane. Under his leadership, Zambia participated for the first time as an independent nation in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany ((West Germany by then)) and the Commonwealth Games of 1970 and 1974.

The Zambian team consisted of 11 Athletes from two sports disciplines (Athletics and Boxing). The Country participated for the first time as Zambia in the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland. Zambia sent a team of 32 from four Sports disciplines, namely Athletics (16), Boxing (9), Lawn bowls (4), Weightlifting (3), the team won four medals (two silver and two bronze).

Zambia also made an appearance at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand with a team of 16 Athletes from five sports disciplines (Athletics, Boxing, Cycling Road, Lawn Bowls and Weightlifting).

See also

References

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