Emmanuel first played for Roan’s youth team in 1963 team before making it to the main team at the age of 17 while he was still a schoolboy, as understudy to Zambia national team goalkeeper Happy Malama.
He was a Zambian footballer who is regarded as Zambia’s best goalkeeper in history.
Nicknamed ‘Mannix’, Mwape kept goal for Zambia at CAN 1974 and featured for Roan United and Rokana United.
He featured for Zambia Schools and his impressive performances saw him being called to the senior national team the following year when he made his full international debut in a friendly against Uganda on 4 July 1968 at Kitwe’s Scrivener Stadium.
Mwape became Zambia’s first-choice goalkeeper in 1971 although for the most part of 1973, coach Ante Buselic preferred Joseph Chomba of Zambia Army F.C.
He was voted the best goalkeeper at the tournament by a panel of journalists after which Mwape said he deserved the award despite it being the first time he had taken part in a big tournament.
In 1975, he lost his place to Abraham Nkole but returned for the two legged World Cup qualifier against Uganda in February 1977. The following month, he was left out of the national team for failing to report to camp and his club revealed that he had been missing from Luanshya since featuring for Zambia against Uganda.
Mwape made a comeback when he captained a young Zambian team to the 1981 CECAFA tournament and the following year, he travelled to CAN 1982 as a reserve goalkeeper.
Mwape fell sick and died on 8 April 1991 at Nchanga South Hospital in Chingola.