IN April, Zambia was thrown into mourning following the death of the first female Finance Minister and Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi, who died at the age of 66.
Nawakwi, a seasoned politician and economist, passed away on April 7, 2025.
She made history in 1998 when she became Zambia’s first female Minister of Finance and the first woman to hold the powerful treasury portfolio in the entire Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
Her appointment at the time was seen as a bold move, especially in an era when senior economic positions were dominated by men.
Born in 1959 in Mwenzo, Northern Province, Nawakwi’s rise was rooted in education and determination.
She studied Agricultural Economics and Business Management at the University of Zambia, before furthering her studies in the United Kingdom, where she obtained a postgraduate diploma in Economics of Energy and Development from Imperial College London.
During her time in government under late president Frederick Chiluba, Nawakwi served in several key Cabinet positions between 1992 and 2001.
These included Minister of State for Energy and Water Development, Minister of Energy and Water Development, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries and Minister of Labour and Social Security.
Even after leaving the government, Nawakwi remained active in national affairs and later rose to become president of the opposition FDD, where she continued to speak strongly on economic management, governance and democracy.
Despite her firm political stance, Nawakwi’s personal life was marked by tragedy.
In 2013, she suffered the devastating loss of her daughter and in 2021, she lost her husband Geofrey Hambulo.
Still, she continued to appear on the political stage, showing resilience in the face of personal hardship.
Following news of Nawakwi’s death, tributes poured in from across the political divide, with many acknowledging her as a pioneer for women in leadership and a politician who helped open doors for future generations.
To many Zambians, Nawakwi is still remembered not only as a former Cabinet minister but as a woman who spoke her mind, stood her ground and refused to be sidelined in a male-dominated political environment.
By George Musonda
Kalemba December 31, 2025
