Mark Chona

June 6, 1934

Monze, Luapula, Zambia

On his return he became a district officer in June 1963 in the Eastern Province at Katete. Three months later he was a student again at the American University, Washington, USA, at a course on international relations. At the end of it in June 1964 he went to Canada on a Carnegie programme and then was attached to the British Consulate-General at Philadelphia, USA, for six weeks. Back home, he was appointed to Kaunda's staff a month before independence in October 1964 as senior principal secretary responsible for provincial affairs. A few weeks later he was attached to Zambia's delegation at the United Nations in New York for the General Assembly. He got back to Lusaka two days before his wedding on December 13, 1964. He left the presidential office on April 1, 1965, to become Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Three years later he was promoted to the top post in the President's office. Since June 1968 he has been at every major international meeting attended by President Kaunda. In February 1973 he was sent to London to prepare Zambia’s appeal to the Commonwealth Sanctions Committee on the need for aid in terms of airlifts of supplies and the provision of heavy trucks to help Zambia survive the blockade on the Rhodesian border.

Mark Chuunyu Chona

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politician

Background

Mark Chona was born on June 6, 1934, son of Chief Chona at Nampeyo, Monze, in the Southern Province.

Education

Educated at Chona Elementary School from 1943 to 1948, Chikuni School from 1948 to 1954 and Munali Secondary School from 1954 to 1958.

After studying at Salisbury University from 1959 to 1961 he got his BA degree in History and Flconomics. He was a district officer cadet in the south at Choma from January 1962 until September 1962 when he was sent to England on an administrative course at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge University.

Career

On his return he became a district officer in June 1963 in the Eastern Province at Katete. Three months later he was a student again at the American University, Washington, USA, at a course on international relations. At the end of it in June 1964 he went to Canada on a Carnegie programme and then was attached to the British Consulate-General at Philadelphia, USA, for six weeks.

Back home, he was appointed to Kaunda's staff a month before independence in October 1964 as senior principal secretary responsible for provincial affairs. A few weeks later he was attached to Zambia's delegation at the United Nations in New York for the General Assembly. He got back to Lusaka two days before his wedding on December 13, 1964. He left the presidential office on April 1, 1965, to become Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Three years later he was promoted to the top post in the President's office. Since June 1968 he has been at every major international meeting attended by President Kaunda. In February 1973 he was sent to London to prepare Zambia’s appeal to the Commonwealth Sanctions Committee on the need for aid in terms of airlifts of supplies and the provision of heavy trucks to help Zambia survive the blockade on the Rhodesian border.

Personality

Trouble-shooter entrusted with confidential assignments abroad by the President and always at his side on foreign visits as his confidant. Younger brother of Mainza Chona embued with a great sense of service to his country but none of the political ambitions of his brother. A man of keen intellect and a capacity for working long hours, he can take decisions on his own as well as carry out a mandate to the letter. A devout Catholic, he is a person of transparent honesty who could go far in government.

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Mark Chuunyu Chona

Background

Education

Career

Personality

Born

Nationality

Education

1943 - 1948

1948 - 1954

1954 - 1958

1959 - 1961

1962

Career

June, 1963

October, 1964

February 16, 1968