Background
Humphrey Mulemba was born on September 1932, at Lusaka.
Humphrey Mulemba was born on September 1932, at Lusaka.
Humphrey Mulemba was educated at Chikuni.
He began working as a miner at the big copper mine at Nchanga and later became an assistant personnel officer at the mines. His next move was to trade union work in which he rose to become full-time secretary of the General Workers’ Union. His political activities often landed him in trouble and in 1959 he was rounded up with the other activists as a political detainee. In 1960 he was released and resumed political work with the United National Independence Party. Later he became UNIP secretary for the North-West Province.
He entered Parliament in 1964 as MP for Lukusuzi and later that year he was appointed Deputy Speaker, serving for three years alongside Wesley Nyirenda, the Speaker. In 1967 he became Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and the Public Service. The following year he was sent to Luapula Province as Minister. His next move was to Barotse Province as Minister from March to September 1969.
He was elected MP for Chitapa East in that year and became Minister of Trade, subsequently having industry added to the portfolio. As Minister of Mines and Mining Development since 1970 he has consolidated the transformation of the administration in the Copperbelt begun with him as chairman of the Mines Zambianisation Committee.
Miner from Nchanga whose cutting edge for politics was sharpened in the trade union movement. A tough party organiser, twice imprisoned for his political activities and given time to let the situation cool down by being appointed representative of the United National Independence Party in London and Accra. A politician with influence and respect in the Copperbelt.