Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika honoured with
an Honorary Doctorate
Lusakatimes.com; June 19, 2009
Zambia’s Ambassador to the United States of America
Dr. Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika has been honoured with a
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws in recognition of her
exemplary public service and extraordinary commitment
to peace and women’s and children’s rights.
Dr. Lewanika was honoured by the Board of Trustees of
the California State University and California Polytechnic
State University during her convocation address to the
2009 graduands at the University.
In her address, Dr. Lewanika said Africa which has for
a long time been perceived as a dark continent has made
significant contributions to the development and progress
of many nations in the world for the good of human kind.
Dr. Mbikusita said contributions such as human capital,
mineral wealth and cash crops were produced at the expense
of many poor families.
Dr. Mbikusita said countries in the world now have become
dependant on each other than ever before such that the
economic crisis which affected some parts of the world
has also hit other countries.
She has however expressed appreciation at the education
that she had received from the same university 45 years
ago, which has mounded her into the kind of person that
she was today.
This is contained in a press release made available to
ZANIS in Lusaka today by first secretary Ben Kangwa.
Dr. -Lewanika, graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree
in Home Economics and Education in 1964, and earned a
Master of Arts degree in Education and Psychology in 1965
from the same University.
The California State University at San Louis Obispo is
the institution from which George Makweti Isiteketo Lewanika,
the current Senior Chief Amukena of Kaoma Diustrict, and
the late Litia Mbikusita Lewanika, his immediate predecessor
as Kaoma Senior Chief graduated in the 1960’s.
Ambassador Lewanika has long been a champion of peace
and women’s and children’s rights. Her illustrious
career includes roles as a teacher, lecturer, women’s
rights activist, politician and diplomat. She currently
serves as ambassador of the Republic of Zambia to the
United States, a position she has held since 2003.
Dr. Mbikusita-Lewanika earned a Bachelor of Science degree
in home economics in 1964 and a Master’s degree
in education in 1965 from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She
went on to earn a Ph.D. in elementary education from New
York University in 1980.
Early in her career, Dr. Mbikusita-Lewanika was a Lecturer
at the Evelyn Hone College of Further Education and Mongu
Teacher Training College in Zambia. She later held the
position of Professor of Education and Teacher Training
at the University of Zambia.
From 1980 to 1991, she worked for UNICEF, first as Regional
Advisor for East and Southern Africa, and then as UNICEF’s
Regional Advisor for West and Central Africa.
Her political career in Zambia began as a Member of Parliament,
where she served from 1991 to 2001. From 2001 to 2002
she served as ambassador and special envoy for the Zambian
president during his term as chairman of the African Union.
In this capacity, she became involved in the Organization
of African Unity, established to promote the unity and
solidarity of African states and help the people of Africa
achieve a better life.
Dr Lewanika was a founding member and later served as
President of the Federation of African Women Peace Networks
(FERFAP). That group has worked to promote the protection
and rights of refugees; to cultivate and promote principles
of democracy; to promote a culture of peace in Africa;
and to participate and advocate for equal participation
of women at the local, regional and national level.
Dr. Lewanika has been deeply involved in peace making.
She led a peace mission to Burundi and Rwanda in 1995,
the FERFAP peace missions to the Horn of Africa, and The
Hague Peace Appeal in 1999.
ZANIS
