Levy Patrick Mwanawasa was born on this day 3rd September 1948 in Mufulira, Northern Rhodesia, as the second of 10 children. Zambia’s 3rd Republican President attained his law degree from the University of Zambia. In 1974, he started working in private law firms until her formed his own firm Mwanawasa & Company in 1978.
In 1985, Mwanawasa was first called to serve and was appointed as Solicitor General in the Zambian Government until he went back to private practice in 1986. It was in 1989 when he catapulted in to the political limelight, when he led the legal defense team that saw him successfully defend Lt. Gen Christon Tembo who stood accused of conspiracy to overthrow the government, this was considered the offence of treason punishable by death.
His success in this case garnered him infamy among the growing anti- KK opposition at the time. After Fredrick Chiluba was elected President, Mwanawasa was appointed Vice President in November 1991. He served as vice-president until he resigned in July 1994.
After a failed attempt at the MMD Presidency in 1996 he resigned from politics until 2001 when he was called to lead the party after President Chiluba’s failed third term bid. He beat Anderson Mazoka’s UPND to serve as the 3rd Republican president of Zambia from January 2002 till his death on August 19 2008.
Not only was this day his birthday, September 3rd 1988 is also the date Levy Patrick Mwanawasa tied the knot with his wife Maureen. They had five children together with an additional two from his first marriage.
He died on August 19 2008 and was laid to rest at Embassy Memorial Park in Lusaka. Levy Mwanawasa was the first president to die in office in Zambia.
Born 3rd September 1948
Married 3rd September 1988
Put to rest 3rd September 2008
