Emmanuel Kasonde
Encyclopedia
Emmanuel Kasonde was a Zambia
n economist
and politician
who served as the Finance
permanent secretary
or Minister of Finance under three successive Zambian presidential administrations, including Kenneth Kaunda
, Frederick Chiluba
and Levy Mwanawasa
.
. He completed his primary school education at Malole Primary School from 1943 to 1950. He next enrolled at St Francis Secondary School. Kasonde continued his education, attending Munali, located in Lusaka
, from 1953 to 1956.
He moved from Northern Rhodesia to the United Kingdom
in 1958 to study economics
.
Kenneth Kaunda
, the first President of Zambia, appointed Kasonde as the Finance permanent secretary (Minister of Finance) in 1967. He remained at the government post until 1971, when he left to rejoin private sector
. He returned to the United Kingdom in 1987 to continue his advanced educational studies.
Kasonde formally entered politics in 1990, when he became Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) provincial chairman for Northern Province
. He was appointed Finance Minister
by President Frederick Chiluba following the victory of Chiluba and the MMD in 1991.
The late President Levy Mwanawasa
also appointed Kasonde as Zambia's Finance Minister after he was elected president in 2002.
Kasonde retired from active politics in 2003. He continued to work in various positions within the Catholic Church in Zambia following his retirement.
at the age of 72. He was survived by his wife, Rose Kasonde, three children and eight grandchildren.
Kasonde's funeral was held at the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Child Jesus in Lusaka. His funeral mass was presided over by Lusaka Archbishop
Telesphore Mpundu, former Lusaka Archbishop Medardo Mazombwe and nine other Catholic priests.
In his will, Kasonde said that he did not want anyone to speak about him at his funeral. However, Archbishop Mazombwe, who was a close friend and adviser to Kasonde for thirty years, still spoke of him in his homily
. Mazombwe said of Kasonde that, "He was a Catholic
inside out. He was dedicated to church affairs, despite the position he held in society
, he remained simple and approachable.." He went on to call Kasonde "...a great source of inspiration for us. His soul
is a soul of an upright man."
High profile Zambian heads of state
at the funeral mass included former President Kenneth Kaunda
and current Defence Minister
George Mpombo, who represented President Rupiah Banda
. Other attendees included former Vice President Enoch Kavindele
, Home Affairs Minister Kalombo Mwansa
and the Speaker of the National Assembly Mutale Nalumango.
The heads of all of Zambia's majority political parties were also in attendance. They included United Party for National Development
(UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema
, Patriotic Front
(PF) president Michael Sata
, the All Peoples Congress Party (APC) president Ken Ngondo. The National Democratic Focus
(NDF) was represented by both president Ben Mwila, as well as the NDF former vice president, Nevers Mumba.
Members of the Zambian government, deputy ministers, members of the diplomatic corp, and the business
community were also present at Kasonde's funeral.
The Government of Zambia declared the day of Emmanuel Kasonde funeral - December 16, 2008 - as a national day of mourning
.
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
n economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served as the Finance
Finance
"Finance" is often defined simply as the management of money or “funds” management Modern finance, however, is a family of business activity that includes the origination, marketing, and management of cash and money surrogates through a variety of capital accounts, instruments, and markets created...
permanent secretary
Permanent Secretary
The Permanent secretary, in most departments officially titled the permanent under-secretary of state , is the most senior civil servant of a British Government ministry, charged with running the department on a day-to-day basis...
or Minister of Finance under three successive Zambian presidential administrations, including Kenneth Kaunda
Kenneth Kaunda
Kenneth David Kaunda, known as KK, served as the first President of Zambia, from 1964 to 1991.-Early life:Kaunda was the youngest of eight children. He was born at Lubwa Mission in Chinsali, Northern Province of Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia...
, Frederick Chiluba
Frederick Chiluba
Frederick Jacob Titus Chiluba was a Zambian politician who was the second President of Zambia from 1991 to 2002. Chiluba, a trade union leader, won the country's multi-party presidential election in 1991 as the candidate of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy , defeating long-time President...
and Levy Mwanawasa
Levy Mwanawasa
Levy Patrick Mwanawasa was the third President of Zambia. He ruled the country from January 2002 until his death in August 2008. He is credited for having initiated a campaign to rid the country of corruption...
.
Early life
Emmanuel Kasonde was born in Malole Mission in Mungwi, Northern RhodesiaNorthern Rhodesia
Northern Rhodesia was a territory in south central Africa, formed in 1911. It became independent in 1964 as Zambia.It was initially administered under charter by the British South Africa Company and formed by it in 1911 by amalgamating North-Western Rhodesia and North-Eastern Rhodesia...
. He completed his primary school education at Malole Primary School from 1943 to 1950. He next enrolled at St Francis Secondary School. Kasonde continued his education, attending Munali, located in Lusaka
Lusaka
Lusaka is the capital and largest city of Zambia. It is located in the southern part of the central plateau, at an elevation of about 1,300 metres . It has a population of about 1.7 million . It is a commercial centre as well as the centre of government, and the four main highways of Zambia head...
, from 1953 to 1956.
He moved from Northern Rhodesia to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1958 to study economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
.
Career
Kasonde was appointed assistant labour commissioner of Northern Rhodesia upon his return from the United Kingdom.Kenneth Kaunda
Kenneth Kaunda
Kenneth David Kaunda, known as KK, served as the first President of Zambia, from 1964 to 1991.-Early life:Kaunda was the youngest of eight children. He was born at Lubwa Mission in Chinsali, Northern Province of Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia...
, the first President of Zambia, appointed Kasonde as the Finance permanent secretary (Minister of Finance) in 1967. He remained at the government post until 1971, when he left to rejoin private sector
Private sector
In economics, the private sector is that part of the economy, sometimes referred to as the citizen sector, which is run by private individuals or groups, usually as a means of enterprise for profit, and is not controlled by the state...
. He returned to the United Kingdom in 1987 to continue his advanced educational studies.
Kasonde formally entered politics in 1990, when he became Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) provincial chairman for Northern Province
Northern Province, Zambia
Northern Province is one of Zambia's nine provinces. It covers approximately one fifth of Zambia in land area. The provincial capital is Kasama. The province is made up of 12 districts, namely Kasama , Chilubi, Isoka, Chinsali, Kaputa, Luwingu, Mbala, Mporokoso, Mpika, Mpulungu, Mungwi and Nakonde...
. He was appointed Finance Minister
Finance minister
The finance minister is a cabinet position in a government.A minister of finance has many different jobs in a government. He or she helps form the government budget, stimulate the economy, and control finances...
by President Frederick Chiluba following the victory of Chiluba and the MMD in 1991.
The late President Levy Mwanawasa
Levy Mwanawasa
Levy Patrick Mwanawasa was the third President of Zambia. He ruled the country from January 2002 until his death in August 2008. He is credited for having initiated a campaign to rid the country of corruption...
also appointed Kasonde as Zambia's Finance Minister after he was elected president in 2002.
Kasonde retired from active politics in 2003. He continued to work in various positions within the Catholic Church in Zambia following his retirement.
Death
Emmanuel Kasonde died on Friday, December 12, 2008, at Lusaka Trust Hospital in LusakaLusaka
Lusaka is the capital and largest city of Zambia. It is located in the southern part of the central plateau, at an elevation of about 1,300 metres . It has a population of about 1.7 million . It is a commercial centre as well as the centre of government, and the four main highways of Zambia head...
at the age of 72. He was survived by his wife, Rose Kasonde, three children and eight grandchildren.
Kasonde's funeral was held at the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Child Jesus in Lusaka. His funeral mass was presided over by Lusaka Archbishop
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lusaka
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lusaka in Zambia covers an area of 64,000 km² . As of 2004, of the 3.3 million citizens in the area, 736,194 are members of the Catholic Church...
Telesphore Mpundu, former Lusaka Archbishop Medardo Mazombwe and nine other Catholic priests.
In his will, Kasonde said that he did not want anyone to speak about him at his funeral. However, Archbishop Mazombwe, who was a close friend and adviser to Kasonde for thirty years, still spoke of him in his homily
Homily
A homily is a commentary that follows a reading of scripture. In Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and Eastern Orthodox Churches, a homily is usually given during Mass at the end of the Liturgy of the Word...
. Mazombwe said of Kasonde that, "He was a Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
inside out. He was dedicated to church affairs, despite the position he held in society
Society
A society, or a human society, is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations...
, he remained simple and approachable.." He went on to call Kasonde "...a great source of inspiration for us. His soul
Soul
A soul in certain spiritual, philosophical, and psychological traditions is the incorporeal essence of a person or living thing or object. Many philosophical and spiritual systems teach that humans have souls, and others teach that all living things and even inanimate objects have souls. The...
is a soul of an upright man."
High profile Zambian heads of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
at the funeral mass included former President Kenneth Kaunda
Kenneth Kaunda
Kenneth David Kaunda, known as KK, served as the first President of Zambia, from 1964 to 1991.-Early life:Kaunda was the youngest of eight children. He was born at Lubwa Mission in Chinsali, Northern Province of Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia...
and current Defence Minister
Defence minister
A defence minister is a person in a cabinet position in charge of a Ministry of Defence, which regulates the armed forces in some sovereign nations...
George Mpombo, who represented President Rupiah Banda
Rupiah Banda
Rupiah Bwezani Banda is a Zambian politician who was President of Zambia from 2008 to 2011.During the Presidency of Kenneth Kaunda, Banda held important diplomatic posts and was active in politics as a member of the United National Independence Party...
. Other attendees included former Vice President Enoch Kavindele
Enoch Kavindele
Enoch Kavindele is a Zambian politician who has served as the Vice-President of Zambia. He has called for a common African currency as a means to achieve economic integration throughout the continent.-References:*...
, Home Affairs Minister Kalombo Mwansa
Kalombo Mwansa
Kalombo Mwansa is the Defense minister of Zambia.- Political career :Kalombo Mwansa became Zambia's Defense Minister on July 9, 2009...
and the Speaker of the National Assembly Mutale Nalumango.
The heads of all of Zambia's majority political parties were also in attendance. They included United Party for National Development
United Party for National Development
The United Party for National Development is a liberal political party in Zambia.At the 2001 legislative elections, held on 27 December 2001, the party won 23.3% of popular votes and 49 out of 159 seats...
(UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema
Hakainde Hichilema
Hakainde Hichilema is a Zambian politician and the President of the United Party for National Development . He replaced Anderson Mazoka after an interparty election, organized by functioning party president Sakwiba Sikota, which followed Mazoka's death in May 2006...
, Patriotic Front
Patriotic Front (Zambia)
The Patriotic Front movement is the Zambian ruling political party. It is currently the most widely supported political party in Zambia. The Party was formed by Michael Sata as a breakaway party of the MMD in 2001. This was after the then-president Frederick Chiluba nominated Levy Mwanawasa as the...
(PF) president Michael Sata
Michael Sata
Michael Chilufya Sata is a Zambian politician who has been the fifth President of Zambia since 23 September 2011. He leads the Patriotic Front , a major political party in Zambia. Under President Frederick Chiluba, Sata was a minister during the 1990s as part of the Movement for Multiparty...
, the All Peoples Congress Party (APC) president Ken Ngondo. The National Democratic Focus
National Democratic Focus
The National Democratic Focus is a political party in Zambia. It won 1 seat in the 2006 election....
(NDF) was represented by both president Ben Mwila, as well as the NDF former vice president, Nevers Mumba.
Members of the Zambian government, deputy ministers, members of the diplomatic corp, and the business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
community were also present at Kasonde's funeral.
The Government of Zambia declared the day of Emmanuel Kasonde funeral - December 16, 2008 - as a national day of mourning
Day of Mourning
The Day of Mourning was a day of protest held by Aboriginal Australians on 26 January 1938, the sesquicentenary of British colonisation of Australia...
.