Rupiah Bwezani Banda, born on 19 February 1937 and died 11 March 2022.
He was a Zambian politician who served as the country’s fourth president from 2008 to 2011, succeeding Levy Mwanawasa.
Banda has been an active part of politics since Kenneth Kaunda’s administration, where he held many diplomatic appointments.
Mwanawasa nominated him vice-president in October 2006.
He became interim president when Mwanawasa suffered a stroke in June 2008 and after Mwanawasa died in August 2008.
His second wife, served as the First Lady of Zambia during his presidency was thirty years younger than him..
How many years was Rupiah Banda in power?
Banda served for three years from 2008, a term remembered for economic growth and corruption allegations.
During the October 2008 by-elections, he barely defeated Patriotic Front opposition leader Michael Sata.
He was finally defeated in the September 2011 presidential election and Sata replaced Banda as president on September 23, 2011.
