Mainza Chona

Mainza Chona
3rd Vice-President of Zambia
In office
October 1970 – August 1973
PresidentKenneth Kaunda
Preceded bySimon Kapwepwe
Succeeded byOffice abolished
1st Prime Minister of Zambia
In office
25 August 1973 – 27 May 1975
Preceded byPosition re-created
Succeeded byElijah Mudenda
In office
20 July 1977 – 15 June 1978
Preceded byElijah Mudenda
Succeeded byDaniel 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

( 1930-01-21)21 January 1930
Northern Rhodesia Nampeyo, near Monze, Northern Rhodesia
Died11 December 2001(2001-12-11) (aged 71)
South Africa Milpark Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa
NationalityZambia  Zambia
SpouseYolanta Mainza (m. 1953)
Relatives

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