Sylvia Masebo

Sylvia Masebo
Masebo in 2022
Member of the National Assembly for Chongwe
In office
August 2021 – May 2026
Preceded byJaphen Mwakalombe
Succeeded byAnita Kamanga
In office
December 2001 – May 2016
Preceded byGibson Nkausu
Succeeded byJaphen Mwakalombe
Minister for Local Government and Housing
In office
2003–2005
PresidentLevy Mwanawasa
Preceded byMichael Mabenga
Succeeded byAndrew Mulenga
In office
2006–2008
PresidentLevy Mwanawasa
Preceded byAndrew Mulenga
Succeeded byBen Tetamashimba
Minister of Tourism and Arts
In office
July 2012 – 20 March 2014
PresidentMichael Sata
Preceded byCatherine Namugala
Succeeded byJean Kapata
Minister of Health
In office
October 2005 – 2006
PresidentLevy Mwanawasa
Preceded byBrian Chituwo
Succeeded byAngela Cifire
In office
September 2021 – 21 July 2024
PresidentHakainde Hichilema
Preceded byJonas Chanda
Succeeded byElijah Muchima
Minister of Lands and Natural Resources
Incumbent
Assumed office
22 July 2024
PresidentHakainde Hichilema
Preceded byElijah Muchima
Personal details
Born (1963-03-07) 7 March 1963
PartyMMD (1990–1998/9)
ZRP (2001–2006)
MMD (2006–2011)
PF (2011–2014)
UPND (2015–present)

Sylvia Masebo (born March 7, 1963) is a Zambian entrepreneur and politician who served as the National Assembly of Zambia representative for Chongwe constituency[1] on two occasions (2001 to 2016 and 2021 to 2026). Sylvia Masebo holds a degree in Banking and Finance. She first stood on the ticket of Zambian Republican Party (ZRP) in 2001, then the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) in 2006, then the Patriotic Front (PF) in 2011, and then the United Party for National Development in 2021. She is the current Minister of Lands and Natural Resources in Zambia. She previously held positions as the Minister of Health on two occasions (2005 - 2006 and 2021 - 2024), as the Minister of Local Government on two occasions (2003 - 2005 and 2006 - 2008) and as the Minister of Tourism and Arts (2012 - 2014).

Political career

Sylvia Masebo came to public prominence in the 1990s as Deputy Mayor of Lusaka and MMD Deputy Treasurer.[2] Even before the mass defections from the MMD in response to Chiluba’s third-term ambitions, Masebo had led a large group of dissatisfied MMD members out of the party.[2] By the time of the 2001 general election, she had joined the newly established Zambia Republican Party (ZRP), headed by former Minister of Defence Benjamin Mwila.[2] On the ZRP ticket, she was elected as a parliamentarian in Chongwe Constituency.[2]

In 2003, Masebo was one of the opposition parliamentarians who were co-opted by Levy Mwanawasa into his Cabinet, becoming Minister for Local Government and Housing.[2][3][4] In August 2005, she was transferred to Health to succeed Brian Chituwo. Masebo was instrumental in politically defending the reversal of the health reforms in Parliament.[2] In 2006, she officially rejoined the MMD[2][5] and would defend her seat on an MMD ticket in the 2006 general election.[6] Following the elections, she returned to her old post as Minister of Local Government. After Rupiah Banda was elected as the President of Zambia in 2008, Masebo was relieved of her Local Government ministerial duties.[7] She was not in support of Banda’s succession of Mwanawasa.[8][9] By the time of the 2011 general election, she had joined Michael Sata’s party (the Patriotic Front)[8][9][2] but failed to retain her parliamentary seat (MMD won the Chongwe seat).[2]

However, there was a by-election in November 2011, just 2 months after the general election, necessitated by Japhen Mwakalombe's resignation from the MMD.[10] Sylvia Masebo stood again for the Patriotic Front in Chongwe Constituency, which she won.[11]

During Michael Sata's tenure, she was appointed as the Minister of Tourism and Arts in July 2012[12] and served until 20 March 2014, when she was dismissed.[13]

In July 2015, the Anti-Corruption Commission arrested Ms. Masebo and charged her with two counts of abuse of authority of office when she served as minister of Tourism and Arts. It was alleged that Ms. Masebo cancelled the procurement of a tender process of the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) hunting concession. She was acquitted of the charges.[14]

Ahead of the 2016 general election, Sylvia Masebo decided to stand for Chongwe again, this time as the United Party for National Development (UPND) candidate. After losing her seat to Japhen Mwakalombe (who now stood for her previous party, the Patriotic Front), she decided to appeal the results, which was unsuccessful.[15]

In the 2021 general election, she stood again as the UPND candidate for Chongwe, which she won.[16] It was the fourth time that she was elected as the Chongwe Member of Parliament.[1] She was then chosen as Zambia's Health minister for the second time[17][18][19] by the newly-voted President Hakainde Hichilema after being appointed firstly in October 2005. On 21 July 2024, the President decided to transfer Sylvia Masebo from her position as Minister of Health to being the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, thereby exchanging roles with Elijah Muchima.[20][21]

Ahead of the 2026 general election, Chongwe constituency was split into two constituencies, namely Chongwe West and Chongwe East.[22][23] Sylvia Masebo was adopted by the UPND to be their candidate in Chongwe East.[24][25] Masebo finished second in Chongwe East at the 2026 election, with Anita Kamanga (an independent candidate) winning the parliamentary seat.[26]

References

  1. 1 2 "Sylvia Masebo". National Assembly of Zambia. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Leenstra, Melle. (2012) Beyond the façade: instrumentalisation of the Zambian health sector
  3. ↑ "Zambia Republican Party Nods Masebo Appointment - Times of Zambia". AllAfrica. 14 February 2003. Retrieved 17 June 2005.
  4. ↑ "Zambian opposition gets seats". News24. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  5. ↑ "Zambia: ZRP's Masebo Applies to Stand On Mmd Ticket - The Post (Lusaka)". AllAfrica. 13 May 2006. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  6. ↑ "Zambia: It Would Be Cowardice Not to Re-Contest in Chongwe - Masebo". AllAfrica. 9 June 2006. Retrieved 17 June 2005.
  7. ↑ "Zambia : President Rupiah Banda names new cabinet". Lusaka Times. 14 November 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  8. 1 2 "Zambia : Masebo claims MMD is in panic, as Sata announces she resigned to join PF". Lusaka Times. 1 July 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  9. 1 2 "allAfrica.com: Zambia: Masebo Departure Good Riddance - Banda". allafrica.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  10. ↑ "MMD regrets mwakalombe's resignation – Zambian Watchdog". www.zambiawatchdog.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  11. ↑ "Zambia : PF wins Nakonde and Chongwe by-elections". 29 November 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  12. ↑ "Zambia : Labour and Tourism Ministry re-aligned again, Masebo, Lungu appointed as Cabinet Ministers". 10 July 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  13. ↑ "Zambia : President Michael Sata has with immediate effect fired Silvia Masebo". 20 March 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  14. ↑ "Zambia : Court Acquits Former Tourism Minister Sylvia Masebo on Charges of Abuse of Authority". 14 July 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  15. ↑ "Zambia : Masebo loses election petition". 28 November 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  16. ↑ "Zambia : Sylvia Masebo bounces back, Wins the Chongwe constituency seat". 15 August 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  17. ↑ zamobserver (9 September 2021). "No More Scandals At Ministry of Health As Long As I Remain Minister There – Sylvia Masebo". The Zambian Observer. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  18. ↑ gregkawere (11 September 2021). "Zambian President Hichilema's 1st cabinet – 25 ministers (21 males & 4 females)". Povo News. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  19. ↑ "HH Names Full Cabinet, Appoints New BOZ Governor". Open Zambia. 8 September 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  20. ↑ "HH moves Masebo to Lands, as Muchima takes over Health". Zambia: News Diggers!. 21 July 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  21. ↑ "Zambia : Former President Lungu Criticises President Hichilema over Ministerial Reshuffles". 22 July 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  22. ↑ ECZ Chairperson Speech - Announcement of 70 new constituencies - Electoral Commission of Zambia
  23. ↑ ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF ZAMBIA ANNOUNCES 70 NEW PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCIES - National Assembly
  24. ↑ Thank You Chongwe East - Sylvia Masebo (self-published Facebook post)
  25. ↑ Nominated Candidates - Electoral Commission of Zambia
  26. ↑ Phiri, Namo (16 August 2026). "More bigwigs tumble as Iris, Jay Jay's sister Pauline Banda go to Parley". Zambia: News Diggers!. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
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