Edith Nawakwi, president of the opposition Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD), has died.
Ms Nawakwi had been unwell in recent months.
In 1998, Nawakwi, an economist, made history as by becoming the first woman to hold the post of Minister of Finance in Zambia under President Frederick Chiluba.
Born in 1959 in Mwenzo, Northern Province of Zambia, she had had a distinguished career in politics and economics.
Nawakwi held a degree in Agriculture Economics and Business Management from the University of Zambia and a post-graduate diploma in Economics of Energy and Development from Imperial College London.
She had also held roles such as Minister of Energy & Water Development, Minister of Agriculture, Food & Fisheries, and Minister of Labour & Social Security between 1992 and 2001.
The news of her passing has been widely shared on social media, with political leaders, friends, and relatives expressing their condolences.
Zambian Vice President Mutale Nalumango described the news as “deeply saddening” in a
message posted on Facebook.
“We have received the sad news of the death of my dear sister, Edith Nawakwi. Please accept my sincere condolences”, the statement partly read
Nawakwi was recently involved in multiple legal proceedings prior to her passing.
She faced charges of abduction and threatening violence. She was accused of abducting Pheluna and Milton Hatembo and allegedly threatening to harm them if they disclosed details of their interactions with her. The trial faced multiple delays due to Nawakwi’s health issues, leading to adjournments in February and March 2025.
Nawakwi was further embroiled in a defamation lawsuit filed by President Hakainde Hichilema. Hichilema sought $3 million in damages, alleging that Nawakwi made defamatory statements accusing him of illegally benefiting during the privatization process. In December 2024, Nawakwi contested the court’s authority to enter a default judgment against her, arguing that she had a valid defense and intended to demonstrate the truth of her statements.
More details are expected as the story develops.
By Darius Choonya
