Ronnie Shikapwasha

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Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha (December 25,1948]]?) is the home affairs minister of Zambia. He has held that post since October 6, 2006. A retired LT General of the Zambia Airforce, he was previously the home affairs minister of Zambia, from February 9, 2003 until January 2005, when he switched positions with Kalombo Mwansa in a cabinet reshuffle and became foreign minister. He served as foreign minister for nearly two years, until another cabinet reshuffle in October 2006 which occurred after Levy Mwanawasa’s election to a second term as President. Shikapwasha returned to the position of home affairs minister and was replaced as foreign minister by agriculture minister Mundia Sikatana. Shikapwasha hails from Zambia's Central Province and is believed to be a relative to the First Lady, Maureen Mwanawasa. He is a member of President Mwanawasa's inner circle, which is infamously referred to as the "Family Tree", an apparemt reference to prevelant nepotism in Mwanawasa's administration. Before becoming Air Force Commander in 1991, Shikapwasha served as defence attache to Tanzania but fell out of favour with former president Kenneth Kaunda. It is believed that he was bundled in cargo container back to Zambia where he was supposed to face charges but he was saved by the change of government in 1991.