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Chitalu Chilufya

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Chitalu Chilufya
Chitalu Chilufya in March 2020.
Minister of Health
In office
August 2016 – January 2021
PresidentEdgar Lungu
Preceded byJoseph Kasonde
Succeeded byJonas Chanda
Deputy Minister of Health
In office
2015–2016
Member of the National Assembly for Mansa Central
In office
23 November 2013 – 15 May 2026
Preceded byKennedy Sakeni
Personal details
Born (1972-07-15) 15 July 1972 (age 53)
Zambia
PartyPatriotic Front
OccupationPhysician

Chitalu Chilufya (born 15 July 1972) is a Zambian physician and politician. He is currently the Member of the National Assembly for Mansa Central.[1] He was Minister of Health from August 2016 to January 2021.[2]

Biography

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Early life and medical career

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Chilufya grew up in the Kaunda Square area of Lusaka.[3] He studied medicine at the University of Zambia and worked as a physician.[4] Before entering politics, Chilufya worked in Zambia's public health system in both clinical and administrative roles. In 2004, he served as Medical Superintendent, and later as director of the Namwala District Health Department. Afterwards, he worked as a clinical care specialist and later as Head of Clinical Care and Quality Assurance through the USAID-funded Zambia Systems Strengthening Integrated Programme.[5]

Early political career

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He was chosen as the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy candidate to contest for the Mansa Central parliamentary seat in the 2011 general elections. However, he was defeated by Kennedy Sakeni of the Patriotic Front.[6] Sakeni died in 2013 and Chilufya was adopted as the Patriotic Front candidate for the subsequent by-election, despite the party having labelled him as a thief in the 2011 election campaign,[7] and was elected to the National Assembly with an 8,392-vote majority.[8][9]

Minister of Health

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In February 2015 he was appointed Deputy Minister of Health by President Edgar Lungu. After retaining his seat in the 2016 general election,[1] he was promoted to Minister of Health by President Lungu. He was dismissed as Minister of Health in January 2021.[10][11][12][2] He retained the Mansa Central parliamentary seat in the 2021 general election as the Patriotic Front (PF) candidate.[13][1] Zambia's Ministry of Health pursued policies aligned with universal health coverage during this period, prioritising primary health care as the main vehicle of service delivery.[14]

Patriotic Front race

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In late 2022, Chilufya was one of the members who applied to be a candidate in a proposed convention in which the successor of Edgar Lungu (who decided to retire) for the Patriotic Front presidency would be chosen.[15][16][17] Lungu was given back the title of PF president in October 2023, putting a halt to any plans for a convention.[18][19][20]

On 15 March 2026, Given Lubinda (who had been the acting president of a faction of the PF since Lungu passed away in June 2025[21][22]) announced that after many delays, his PF faction would host a convention to choose their new leader within four days.[23] The convention took place virtually on 21 March 2026 and the delegates that were present elected Makebi Zulu to be the president of the party faction with 49.2% of the vote, with Chitalu Chilufya getting 34.1% of the vote.[24][25]

2026 general election

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In April 2026, Chilufya decided to associate with the PF faction where Miles Sampa was the party president and Sampa decided that Chilufya should be the PF presidential candidate at the 2026 general election to happen in August that year.[26] Chilufya accepted the nomination.[27][28] However, on 18 May 2026, Sampa had made a public announcement stating that the Patriotic Front will withdraw its presidential candidate and not participate in the 2026 general election.[29] The next day, Chilufya withdrew his intentions to stand as the Patriotic Front presidential candidate, stating that the party was still going through legal challenges.[30][31][32] Chilufya proceeded to stand as an independent MP candidate in the newly-created Mansa West constituency[33][34] while Sampa withdrew his intentions of being a member of parliament,[35][36][37] which meant that the Patriotic Front would not field any candidate at any local government level at the 2026 general election. Chitalu Chilufya proceeded to officially resign from the Patriotic Front party in order to complete his independent candidature in Mansa West.[38][39][40][41]

Personal life

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Chilufya is married with two children.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Chitalu Chilufya | National Assembly of Zambia". www.parliament.gov.zm. Archived from the original on 2025-06-16. Retrieved 2025-07-27.
  2. ^ a b "Minister Chitalu Chilufya fired". Zambian Watchdog. 2021-01-10. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
  3. ^ a b "Meet your leader: Profile of Hon. Dr Chitalu Chilufya". Mwebantu News. 17 August 2017. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
  4. ^ Chitalu Chilufya National Assembly of Zambia
  5. ^ "Dr. Chitalu Chilufya". WHO. Archived from the original on 16 June 2025.
  6. ^ 2011 National Assembly election results Archived 2016-03-05 at the Wayback Machine Electoral Commission of Zambia
  7. ^ "PF setlles [sic] for MMD 'thief' in Mansa by-election". Zambia Watchdog. 15 October 2013. Archived from the original on 2018-03-26. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
  8. ^ Results for Mansa Central parliamentary and seven (7) local government by elections Archived 2015-07-14 at the Wayback Machine Electoral Commission of Zambia
  9. ^ PF Retains Mansa Central Seat With Sound Margin
  10. ^ "Zambia : President Lungu Fires Health Minister Dr. Chitalu Chilufya, Dr Jonas Chanda is the New Health Minister". Lusaka Times. 2021-01-10. Retrieved 2025-07-27.
  11. ^ Nation, Daily (2021-01-10). "BREAKING NEWS: CHITALU CHILUFYA FIRED". Daily Nation. Retrieved 2025-07-27.
  12. ^ "Lungu fires Health Minister after leaky condoms spark public anger". Zambia: News Diggers!. Retrieved 2025-07-27.
  13. ^ Admin (2021-08-20). "ELECTED MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT IN THE 2021 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ELECTION - Electoral Commission of Zambia". Retrieved 2025-07-27.
  14. ^ "Zambia commits to strengthening Primary Health Care as a vehicle for advancing Universal Health Coverage". WHO Africa. 18 April 2019.
  15. ^ "5 CANDIDATES GO FOR PF PRESIDENCY IN ONGOING RACE - Diamond Media". 2022-10-28. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  16. ^ Nation, Daily (2023-01-23). "'I have not withdrawn from the PF presidential race' says Chitalu Chilufya". Daily Nation. Retrieved 2026-05-14.
  17. ^ cfeditoren (2022-11-14). "PF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES COMPARE NOTES". Zambia. Retrieved 2026-05-14.
  18. ^ "Edgar Lungu - ex-Zambian president makes political comeback". 2023-10-29. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
  19. ^ "Ex-President Lungu returns to active politics, putting to rest months of speculations | Zambia Monitor". 2023-10-28. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
  20. ^ Sinyangwe, Chiwoyu (9 November 2023). "Daggers drawn in Zambia as Lungu announces plans to retake control of main opposition". The Africa Report. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  21. ^ Nalwimba, Mwiche. "All PF members are potential prisoners under UPND – Lubinda". Zambia: News Diggers!. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  22. ^ Mwansa, Ivy. "Lubinda challenges Fr Mukosa to explain how he misled Lungu family". Zambia: News Diggers!. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  23. ^ "THE LONG AWAITED PF CONVENTION TO BE HELD WITHIN FOUR DAYS". Diamond Media. 2026-03-15. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  24. ^ "Zambia : Makebi Zulu Wins Patriotic Front Presidential Race with 49.2 Percent". Lusaka Times. 2026-03-22. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  25. ^ Jere, Shadreck. "PF convention votes Makebi, as Chitalu beats Lubinda". Zambia: News Diggers!. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  26. ^ Nkomesha, Ulande (30 April 2026). "Chitalu joins presidential race under Sampa-led PF". Zambia: News Diggers!. Retrieved 2026-05-14.
  27. ^ Mwansa, Ivy (13 May 2026). "PF, Citizens First successfully present 100 supporters to ECZ". Zambia: News Diggers!. Retrieved 2026-05-14.
  28. ^ Mwewa, Mike (2 May 2026). "Chitalu Chilufya Declares Presidential Bid for 2026 Elections". Daily Nation. Retrieved 2026-05-14.
  29. ^ Mofya, Mwenya (19 May 2026). "Sampa's PF withdraws from 2026 presidential race". Zambia: News Diggers!. Retrieved 2026-05-24.
  30. ^ Mwansa, Ivy. "Chitalu Chilufya drops presidential bid amid PF legal battles". Zambia: News Diggers!. Retrieved 2026-05-24.
  31. ^ "Dr. Chitalu Chilufya Withdraws from Presidential Race". Daily Nation. 20 May 2026. Retrieved 2026-05-24.
  32. ^ "Chitalu Chilufya Withdraws Presidential Bid". Lusaka Times. 21 May 2026. Retrieved 2026-05-24.
  33. ^ "PF vanishes from ballot as Miles Sampa, Chitalu Chilufya file as Independents - Zambian Eye". Zambian Eye. 23 May 2026. Retrieved 2026-05-24.
  34. ^ "From Presidential Ambition to Independent MP: Chitalu's Political Descent Captured in One Frame". Zambian Observer. 23 May 2026. Retrieved 2026-05-24.
  35. ^ Jere, Shadreck (2026-05-29). "Miles pulls out of Lima race". Zambia: News Diggers!. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
  36. ^ "Zambia : Candidate withdrawals emerge as major election issue ahead of August polls". Lusaka Times. 2026-05-30. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
  37. ^ "MILES SAMPA WITHDRAWS FROM LIMA PARLIAMENTARY RACE". Diamond Media. 2026-06-01. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
  38. ^ Jere, Shadreck (2026-06-01). "PF accepts Chilufya's resignation, wishes him well – Miles". Zambia: News Diggers!. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
  39. ^ "Zambia : Dr. Chitalu Chilufya Resigns from PF, To Contest as Independent Candidate". 2026-06-01. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
  40. ^ "DR CHITALU CHILUFYA RESIGNS FROM PF". Diamond Media. 2026-06-01. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
  41. ^ muvi (2026-06-01). "Dr. Chitalu Chilufya Resigns from PF, To Contest as Independent Candidate". Muvi TV. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
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