Given Lubinda

Given Lubinda is the Minister of Agriculture & Livestock in Zambia, a Member of the National Assembly of Zambia for Kabwata Constituency (Lusaka), and the former Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Cabinet of Zambia. He is also the chairman for Information and publicity for the Patriotic Front ^[5] which is the ruling party in Zambia led by Michael Sata. Lubinda is of mixed-race parentage. He is known as an outspoken politician.

He came under criticism from both members of the then ruling party (Movement for Multiparty Democracy) and the opposition for voicing concerns on issues such as expenditure after the Zambian government planned and eventually increased salaries and allowances for both Ministers and Members of Parliament following the death of President Levy Mwanawasa.^[6]

In January 2012 he bungee-jumped from the Victoria Falls bridge to restore confidence in the jump arrangements after Australian Erin Langworthy's rope broke during her jump. He has offered to jump again with Langworthy.^[7]

Removal from Government

In February 2012, Lubinda was removed from his position as Minister of Foreign Affairs after being accused of leaking information to the opposition, United Party for National Development, a party he previously belonged to. This was viewed as a result of pressure on the president to remove a potential successor by other ministers that were vying for the presidency.^[8]

Reappointment as Minister

Lubinda was appointed as Agricultural & Livestock minister by President Edgar Lungu on 12 February 2015.

References