President of Zambia. Head of state, politician. Former Solicitor General of Republic of Zambia. A native of Mufulira, Zambia (formerly Northern Rhodesia), he served as president of his country from 2002 until his death. He studied law at the University of Zambia, earning his degree with merit in 1973. Following graduation, he went into private practice in his own firm. He was then appointed solicitor-general in 1985 by the first president of Zambia, but only served for one year before going back to private practice. He retired from his law firm when the second president of Zambia appointed him as the Vice President of Zambia in 1991. He held this position until 1994. He played a pivotal role in the application of the law which ended the single-party rule in Zambia. He joined this new oppostion party, the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy, and was elected as its presidential candidate in 2001. He won the election and, on January 2, 2002, was inaugurated as the third President of the Republic of Zambia. Known as one of Africa's most progressive leaders, he was the first African head of state to openly criticize the regime of Robert Mugabe, president of Zimbabwe. Following two weeks of national mourning, Mwanawasa was buried in a state funeral, with full military honors, on September 3, 2008 - a day declared a public holiday and the day that he would have celebrated his 60th birthday. He was the first president of Zambia to die in office.

President of Zambia. Head of state, politician. Former Solicitor General of Republic of Zambia. A native of Mufulira, Zambia (formerly Northern Rhodesia), he served as president of his country from 2002 until his death. He studied law at the University of Zambia, earning his degree with merit in 1973. Following graduation, he went into private practice in his own firm. He was then appointed solicitor-general in 1985 by the first president of Zambia, but only served for one year before going back to private practice. He retired from his law firm when the second president of Zambia appointed him as the Vice President of Zambia in 1991. He held this position until 1994. He played a pivotal role in the application of the law which ended the single-party rule in Zambia. He joined this new oppostion party, the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy, and was elected as its presidential candidate in 2001. He won the election and, on January 2, 2002, was inaugurated as the third President of the Republic of Zambia. Known as one of Africa's most progressive leaders, he was the first African head of state to openly criticize the regime of Robert Mugabe, president of Zimbabwe. Following two weeks of national mourning, Mwanawasa was buried in a state funeral, with full military honors, on September 3, 2008 - a day declared a public holiday and the day that he would have celebrated his 60th birthday. He was the first president of Zambia to die in office.

Bio by: Legacy