10 Things You Didn’t Know About Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika
Princess Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika (born 10 July 1943, Senanga) is a Zambian politician who has served as Ambassador of the Republic of Zambia to the United States of America.
Lewanika, who attended New York University, began her career as a teacher.
Inonge is the daughter of King Lewanika II of Barotseland. Due to this fact, she currently holds the titles of princess and queen mother emerita in that kingdom.
Her higher level education started in 1964 when she obtained a degree in home economics and a master’s degree the following year from California Polytechnic State University.
Lewanika was a lecturer and professor of education at the University of Zambia.
She was later employed by UNICEF as a regional adviser for Africa.
In 1991 Inonge was elected to Parliament for the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) in Zambia’s first multi-party polls since 1972.
She was one of two women who ran to be President of Zambia in the elections of 2001, capturing about 0.6 percent of the vote under the Agenda for Zambia (AZ) banner.
She was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws by her alma mater, California Polytechnic State University, in 2009.