15 Facts About Maureen Mwanawasa

Maureen Mwanawasa was a Zambian legal practitioner who was first lady from 2002 to 2008.

Maureen Mwanawasa was a member of the Association of Women Lawyers in the United Kingdom, a serving council member of Law Association of Zambia Women's Rights Committee, and the vice chairperson for the Habitat for Humanity, Zambia Board.

Maureen Kakubo Mwanawasa was born in Kabwe, in the Central Province of Zambia on 28 April 1963, to Jeniya Lupumpaula Chilunga Kakubo and Lupumpaula Buluwayo Kakubo.

Maureen Mwanawasa was the eighth born in a family of 10 children, 6 boys and 4 girls.

Maureen Mwanawasa started her school in 1970 at the age of seven at Raphael Kombe Primary School in Chimanimani Township in Kabwe.

Maureen Mwanawasa met her future husband, Levy Maureen Mwanawasa in Kabwe where they went on to get married on 7 May 1987.

Maureen Mwanawasa campaigned with her husband during his 2001 elections when running for the presidency of Zambia and won the elections held on 27 December 2001 and took office on 2 January 2002.

Maureen Mwanawasa was awarded the International Hope Award by World Vision in 2006.

Maureen Mwanawasa was a Jehovah's Witness, but in 2001 she was excommunicated for being actively involved in politics.

In May 2016, Maureen Mwanawasa announced her candidacy for Executive Mayor of Lusaka under the sponsorship of the United Party for National Development in the 2016 general election held on 11 August 2016.

Maureen Mwanawasa, who filed her nomination papers on 30 May 2016, received the endorsements of former president and vice president Guy Scott, as well as former MPs Sylvia Masebo and Obvious Mwaliteta.

Maureen Mwanawasa pledged to curb the city's cholera outbreaks and water shortages if elected.

Kalumba won the election with 270,161 votes, while Maureen Mwanawasa came in second place with 150,807 votes.

Maureen Mwanawasa was the widow of former president Levy Mwanawasa, who died in office in 2008, and was a mother of four including Chipokota Mwanawasa, a lawyer and businesswoman.

Maureen Mwanawasa died of a short illness at Maina Soko Medical Centre in Lusaka Zambia, on 13 August 2024, at the age of 61.