21 Facts About Rupiah Banda

Rupiah Bwezani Banda was a Zambian politician who served as the fourth president of Zambia from 2008 to 2011, taking over from Levy Mwanawasa.

Rupiah Banda was later defeated in the 2011 election and succeeded by Sata.

Rupiah Banda became involved in politics when he joined the youth wing of the United National Independence Party in 1960.

Rupiah Banda was one of the notable alumni of Rusangu University, Zambia.

Rupiah Banda was the UNIP's representative in Northern Europe in the early 1960s and in 1965 he was appointed Zambia's Ambassador to Egypt.

Rupiah Banda became Ambassador to the United States on 7 April 1967.

Rupiah Banda served as Ambassador to the US 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.

Rupiah Banda was elected as a Member of Parliament for the Munali Constituency in 1978 and lost the seat to Simeon Kampata in 1983.

Rupiah Banda served for a time as Minister of State for Mines.

Rupiah 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.

Rupiah Banda subsequently delivered a series of optimistic but vague updates on Mwanawasa's health.

Rupiah 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.

Rupiah Banda filed an application to stand as the candidate of the MMD on 26 August 2008.

Rupiah Banda had been widely expected to win, and he received 47 votes against 11 for Ng'andu Magande, the Minister of Finance.

On this occasion, Rupiah Banda promised to "unite the party and the entire nation" and to "continue implementing [Mwanawasa's] programs".

Rupiah 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 Rupiah Banda's victory, while Sata's supporters rioted in Lusaka and Kitwe.

President Rupiah Banda subsequently welcomed others to challenge him for the nomination at the MMD Conventions taking place across the country.

On 15 March 2013, Rupiah Banda became the second head of state in Zambian history to have his presidential immunity revoked.

Rupiah Banda died at home in Lusaka from colon cancer on 11 March 2022, at the age of 85.

Rupiah Banda married his first wife, Hope Mwansa Makulu, in 1966 and the couple had three sons together.

Thandiwe Rupiah Banda served as the First Lady of Zambia during his presidency from 2008 to 2011.