Sylvia Masebo (born March 7, 1963) is a Zambian entrepreneur, politician, and National Assembly of Zambia representative for Chongwe constituency[1] with the United Party for National Development (UPND). Sylvia Masebo holds a degree in Banking and Finance. She first stood on the ticket of Zambian Republican Party (ZRP) in 2001, then the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) in 2003, then the Patriotic Front (PF) in 2011, and then the UPND in 2021.
Sylvia Masebo | |
|---|---|
 Masebo in 2022 | |
| Member of the National Assembly | |
| In office December 2001 – 2006 | |
| Constituency | Chongwe |
| In office September 2006 – September 2011 | |
| Constituency | Chongwe |
| In office November 2011 – August 2016 | |
| Constituency | Chongwe |
| Assumed office August 2021 | |
| Constituency | Chongwe |
| Minister for Local Government and Housing | |
| In office 2003–2005 | |
| In office 2006–2008 | |
| Minister of Tourism and Arts | |
| In office 2012 – 20 March 2014 | |
| Minister of Health | |
| In office October 2005 – 2006 | |
| In office September 2021 – 21 July 2024 | |
| Minister of Lands and Natural Resources | |
| Assumed office 22 July 2024 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 March 1963 |
| Political party | MMD (1990–1998/9) ZRP (2001–2003) MMD (2003–2011) PF (2011–2014) UPND (2015–present) |
Political career
editSylvia Masebo came to public prominence in the 1990s as Deputy Mayor of Lusaka and MMD Deputy Treasurer. Even before the mass defections from the MMD in response to Chiluba’s third-term ambitions, Masebo had led a large group of dissatisfied MMD members out of the party. By the time of the 2001 elections, she had joined the newly established Zambia Republican Party (ZRP), headed by former Minister of Defence Benjamin Mwila. On the ZRP ticket, she was elected as a parliamentarian in Chongwe Constituency.
In 2003, Masebo was one of the opposition parliamentarians who were co-opted by Mwanawasa into his Cabinet, becoming Minister for Local Government and Housing. In 2005, she was transferred to Health to succeed Chituwo. Masebo was instrumental in politically defending the reversal of the health reforms in Parliament. Her tenure, however, was cut short when she decided to formally cross over to the MMD, forcing her to vacate her seat in Parliament and her ministerial position. This allowed her, however, to defend her seat on an MMD ticket in the 2006 elections. Following the elections, she returned to her old post as Minister of Local Government, which she held until Banda came to power in 2008. She failed to be appointed minister for opposing Banda’s succession of Mwanawasa. By the time of the 2011 elections, she had joined Michael Sata’s camp (the Patriotic Front) but failed to retain her parliamentary seat.[2]
However, there was a by-election in November 2011, just 3 months after the general election, necessitated by Japhen Mwakalombe's resignation from the MMD.[3] Sylvia Masebo stood again for the Patriotic Front in Chongwe Constituency, which she won.[4]
During Michael Sata's tenure, she served as the Minister of Tourism and Arts until 20 March 2014, when she was dismissed.[5]
In July 2015, the Anti-Corruption Commission arrested Ms. Masebo and charged her with two counts of abuse of authority of office when she served as minister of Tourism and Arts. It was alleged that Ms. Masebo cancelled the procurement of a tender process of the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) hunting concession. She was acquitted of the charges.[6]
Ahead of the 2016 general election, Sylvia Masebo decided to stand for Chongwe again, this time as the United Party for National Development candidate. After losing her seat to Japhen Mwakalombe (who now stood for her previous party, the Patriotic Front), she decided to appeal the results, which was unsuccessful.[7]
In the 2021 general election, she stood again as the United Party for National Development candidate for Chongwe, which she won.[8] It was the fourth time that she was elected as the Chongwe Member of Parliament.[1] She was then chosen as Zambia's Health minister for the second time[9] by the newly-voted President Hakainde Hichilema after being appointed firstly in October 2005. On 21 July 2024, the President decided to transfer Sylvia Masebo from her position as Minister of Health to being the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, thereby exchanging roles with Elijah Muchima.[10][11]
References
edit- ^ a b "Sylvia Masebo". National Assembly of Zambia. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
- ^ Leenstra, Melle. (2012) Beyond the façade : instrumentalisation of the Zambian health sector
- ^ "MMD regrets mwakalombe's resignation – Zambian Watchdog". www.zambiawatchdog.com. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- ^ "Zambia : PF wins Nakonde and Chongwe by-elections". 29 November 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- ^ "Zambia : President Michael Sata has with immediate effect fired Silvia Masebo". 20 March 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- ^ Lusaka Times. (2017). Court Acquits Former Tourism Minister Sylvia Masebo on Charges of Abuse of Authority. https://www.lusakatimes.com/2017/07/14/court-acquits-former-tourism-minister-sylvia-masebo-charges-abuse-authority/
- ^ "Zambia : Masebo loses election petition". 28 November 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- ^ "Zambia : Sylvia Masebo bounces back, Wins the Chongwe constituency seat". 15 August 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ zamobserver (9 September 2021). "No More Scandals At Ministry of Health As Long As I Remain Minister There – Sylvia Masebo". The Zambian Observer. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ "HH moves Masebo to Lands, as Muchima takes over Health". Zambia: News Diggers!. 21 July 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- ^ "Zambia : Former President Lungu Criticises President Hichilema over Ministerial Reshuffles". 22 July 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
