Ex-Information Services Minister, Shikapwasha, dies. Some things to know about him

Former Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha, has died.

His death comes after police on Monday, January, 15, 2023, confirmed investigating a shooting incident he was involved in.

Police Spokesperson, Rae Hamoonga, in a statement said the incident occurred on January 14, 2024 between 17:00 and 18:00 hours at his residence in Ibex Hill.

While there have been loads of speculations as to cause of the shooting, no official statement or a comprehensive report of what happened has been issued by the family.

The following are some of the few things to know about the late Shikapwasha:

1. Shikapwasha was born on December 25, 1947 in Central Province of Zambia.

2. Shikapwasha served as Zambia Air Force Commander under late President Frederick Chiluba.

3. Before becoming Air Force Commander in 1991, Shikapwasha served as a diplomat and defence attache to Tanzania but fell out of favour with former President Kenneth Kaunda.

4. His educational background shows that he attended military training in England, Russia, China, former Yugoslavia, and India.

5. He is world travelled and once served as the Kenneth Kaunda’s personal pilot.

6. A retired Lieutenant General of the Zambia Air Force, Shikapwasha served as Home Affairs Minister of Zambia, from February 9, 2003, until January 2005.

7. Shikapwasha switched positions with Kalombo Mwansa in a cabinet reshuffle and became Foreign Affairs Minister.

8. He served as Foreign Affairs Minister for nearly two years, until another cabinet reshuffle in October 2006 which occurred after Levy Mwanawasa’s election to a second term as president.

9. Shikapwasha returned to the position of Home Affairs Minister and was replaced as Foreign Affairs Minister by then Agriculture Minister, Mundia Sikatana.

10. He also served as Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services of Zambia, a post he held from 2008 until his party, the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD,) lost the elections to the Patriotic Front in September 2011.

Shikapwasha leaves eight children with his wife Jane.

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