Background Of Inonge Wina: Zambia's First Female Vice President

Inonge Mutukwa Wina (born April 2, 1941) is a Zambian politician who has become 13th Vice President of Zambia since 1964. She is the first female to hold the position making her the highest ranking female in the history of Zambia.

Education
Wina attended primary school in Senanga, at the Barotse National School (now Kambule Secondary School) in Mongu. She eventually completed her high school education at Santa Monica High School in Los Angeles, California.

She obtained a diploma in social works at Santa Monica City College. She also read for a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Zambia when it was first opened.

Community service
Wina's passion for community work dates back to the early 1970s when she gave free service to women's movements as a volunteer. She has served on a number of boards of Non Governmental Organisations and as president of the Young Women's Christian Association, where she was instrumental in promoting women's human rights agenda, resulting in the Zambian government's establishment of the Victim Support Unit under the Zambia Police Service.

In 1996, she was elected National Chairperson of the NGO Coordinating Council of Zambia (NGOCC). In 2000, Wina led the women's movement in the Red Ribbon Campaign in defence of the Zambian Constitution.

Wina also served as director on a number of boards in the public sector; this included Refuge Services Zambia, Zambia Council of Social Services, University Teaching Hospital, and the University of Zambia Council.

Political career
In 2001 Wina was elected as Member of Parliament of Nalolo Constituency as a candidate of the United Party for National Development. She was elected chairperson of a number of portfolio committees, including the Committee on Human Rights Gender and Governance, and Women Parliamentary Caucus.

In the 2006 presidential and general elections, Wina re-contested her Nalolo seat as a candidate of the United Liberal Party. She lost the election and petitioned the results in the High Court; the case was ruled in her favour but later overturned by the Supreme Court.

In the 2011 general elections, Wina again contested the Nalolo seat, this time under the Patriotic Front ticket, and won. Wina was included in President Michael Sata's initial 18-member cabinet as Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs. On March 8, 2014, Sata, during the commemoration of International Women's Day, upgraded the gender cabinet division into a full ministry and subsequently appointed Wina as Minister of Gender.

On January 26, 2015, newly elected President Edgar Lungu appointed Wina as Vice President of Zambia.

Personal life
She was married to Arthur Wina, a freedom fighter, former minister and academic who died on 3 September 1995.

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.