Mainza Chona | |
|---|---|
| 3rd Vice-President of Zambia | |
| In office October 1970 – August 1973 | |
| President | Kenneth Kaunda |
| Preceded by | Simon Kapwepwe |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| 1st Prime Minister of Zambia | |
| In office 25 August 1973 – 27 May 1975 | |
| Preceded by | Position re-created |
| Succeeded by | Elijah Mudenda |
| In office 20 July 1977 – 15 June 1978 | |
| Preceded by | Elijah Mudenda |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Lisulo |
| Minister of Home Affairs | |
| In office 1966–1969 | |
| Zambian Ambassador to the United States | |
| In office 1969–1970 | |
| Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney-General | |
| In office 1975–1977 | |
| Secretary General of UNIP | |
| In office 1978–1981 | |
| Zambian Ambassador to China | |
| In office 1984–1989 | |
| Zambian Ambassador to France | |
| In office 1989–1992 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Sikaye Chingula Namukamba 21 January 1930  Nampeyo, near Monze, Northern Rhodesia |
| Died | 11 December 2001 (aged 71) Milpark Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Nationality |  Zambia |
| Spouse | Yolanta Mainza (m. 1953) |
| Relatives |
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Mainza Mathias Chona (21 January 1930 – 11 December 2001) was a Zambian politician and founder of UNIP who served as the third vice-president of Zambia from 1970 to 1973 and Prime Minister on two occasions: from 25 August 1973 to 27 May 1975 and from 20 July 1977 to 15 June 1978.
He was Secretary General of the United National Independence Party (UNIP), the ruling party, from 1978 to 1981. This position was the de facto second in command in the hierarchy of Zambian politics during the period of the One Party Participatory State (1973–1991).
He also held various government positions, including Justice Minister (1964–1968), Home Affairs Minister (1968–1969) and Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney-General (1975–1978). He was Secretary-General of UNIP from 1978 to 1981 and Ambassador to the People's Republic of China from 1984 to 1989. He later served as Ambassador to France until