Ronnie Shikapwasha Biography, Wiki, Age, Wife, Net Worth, Family, Career & News
Ronnie Shikapwasha, who died on January 15, 2024, at the age of 76, was a prominent Zambian politician, military officer, and Christian leader. He served in various ministerial positions under three presidents and was the commander of the Zambia Air Force for six years. He was also a devout Christian who founded and led the Miracle Impact Ministries International, a Pentecostal church with branches in Zambia and abroad.
Early Life and Military Career
Ronnie Shikapwasha was born on December 25, 1947, in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), as Ronald Shikapwasha. He attended the Munali Secondary School in Lusaka and later joined the Zambia Air Force in 1966.
He rose through the ranks and became the commander of the air force in 1991, following the election of Frederick Chiluba as the president of Zambia. He held this position until 1997 when he retired from the military and entered politics.
Ronnie Shikapwasha Wiki/Bio
| Name | Ronnie Shikapwasha |
| Born | 25 December 1947 in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) |
| Died | 15 January 2024 (aged 76) in Lusaka, Zambia |
| Citizenship | Zambian |
| Spouse | Jane Shikapwasha |
| Children | 8 |
| Profession | Christian |
| Party | Movement for Multi-Party Democracy |
| Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services | In office 2008 – September 2011 President: Rupiah Banda Preceded by: Vernon Mwaanga Succeeded by: Given Lubinda |
| Minister of Home Affairs | In officeOctober 2006 – 2008 President: Levy Mwanawasa |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | In office: January 2005 – October 2006 President: Levy Mwanawasa Preceded by: Kalombo Mwansa Succeeded by: Mundia Sikatana |
| Minister of Home Affairs | In office9 February 2003 – January 2005 President: Levy Mwanawasa |
| Zambia Airforce Commander | In office 1991 – 1 December 1997 President: Frederick Chiluba Preceded by: Herbert Simutowe Succeeded by: Sande Kayumba |
| ronnieshikapwasha | |
| Wikipedia | Ronnie_Shikapwasha |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Political Career
Shikapwasha joined the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD), the ruling party at the time, and was elected as a member of parliament for the Keembe constituency in 1998. He was appointed as the minister of home affairs by President Chiluba in 2003 and continued to serve in this capacity under President Levy Mwanawasa, who succeeded Chiluba in 2002. In 2005, he was moved to the Ministry of foreign-affairs, where he oversaw Zambia’s diplomatic relations with other countries. He was instrumental in strengthening Zambia’s ties with China, India, and other emerging economies.
In 2006, he returned to the ministry of Home Affairs, where he was in charge of the police, immigration, prisons, and national registration. He was praised for his efforts to maintain law and order and to combat corruption and crime. He also initiated several reforms in the security sector, such as the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Drug Enforcement Commission.
In 2008, following the death of President Mwanawasa, Shikapwasha was appointed as the minister of information and broadcasting services by President Rupiah Banda, who won the presidential by-election. He became the government spokesperson and the chief defender of the MMD’s policies and achievements. He also supervised the state-owned media outlets, such as the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC), the Times of Zambia, and the Zambia Daily Mail. He faced criticism from the opposition and civil society groups for allegedly restricting the freedom of expression and the media, especially during the 2011 general elections, which the MMD lost to the Patriotic Front (PF) led by Michael Sata.
Shikapwasha remained an active member of the MMD after losing his parliamentary seat and ministerial position in 2011. He contested the 2016 presidential election as the running mate of Nevers Mumba, the MMD leader, but they only received 0.9% of the votes. He also faced several legal challenges, including a case of abuse of authority of office, which he was acquitted of in 2018.
Christian Ministry
Shikapwasha was a committed Christian who dedicated his life to serving God and spreading the gospel. He founded Miracle Impact Ministries International (MIMI) in 1998, a Pentecostal church that grew to have over 100 branches in Zambia and other countries, such as South Africa, Botswana, Malawi, and the United States. He was the presiding bishop and the general overseer of the church, which had a membership of over 50,000 people. He also hosted a popular television program called “Impact for Jesus”, which aired on ZNBC and other channels.
Shikapwasha was known for his charismatic preaching and his healing and prophetic gifts. He claimed to have performed many miracles, such as raising the dead, curing the sick, and casting out demons. He also prophesied about the future of Zambia and the world, often giving political advice and warnings.
He was respected and admired by many Christians, especially those from the Pentecostal and charismatic movements. He was also involved in various ecumenical and interfaith initiatives, such as the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ), the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), and the Zambia Inter-Religious Council (ZIRC).
Controversies
Ronnie Shikapwasha was not without controversies and criticisms, both in his public and private life. Some of the major controversies that he faced or was involved in are:
- His alleged involvement in the 1997 Zambian coup attempt, was an unsuccessful attempt by a group of junior army officers to overthrow the government of President Frederick Chiluba. Shikapwasha, who was the commander of the Zambia Air Force at the time, was accused of being part of the plot or failing to prevent it. He was subsequently relieved from his duties while lying in a hospital in South Africa on the verge of death. He later denied any involvement or knowledge of the coup attempt and claimed that he was a victim of a political witch-hunt.
- His alleged abuse of authority of office, was a case that he faced along with two other former ministers, Dora Siliya and Maxwell Mwale, in connection with the procurement of radars for the Zambia Air Force in 2008. The trio was accused of flouting the procedures and regulations of the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) and causing the government to lose over 9 million USD. They were arrested and charged in 2012 but were acquitted by the Lusaka Magistrate Court in 2018 after the state failed to prove its case against them.
Personal Life, Spouse & Kids
Shikapwasha was married to Jane Shikapwasha, a former diplomat and politician, who served as the deputy minister of foreign affairs from 2006 to 2011. They had eight children, some of whom followed their parents’ footsteps in the military, politics, and ministry. Shikapwasha was also a grandfather and a great-grandfather.
Physical Stats
| Height (approx.) | In Feet Inches: 5′ 11″. |
| Weight (approx.) | In Kilograms: 75 kg. |
| Hair Color | Black. |
| Eye Color | Black |
Death Cause
Shikapwasha died on January 15, 2024, in Lusaka, after a short illness. He was buried with full military honors at the Embassy Park in Lusaka, where other former presidents and vice-presidents are also interred.
His funeral was attended by thousands of people, including President Hakainde Hichilema, former presidents Rupiah Banda and Edgar Lungu, and other dignitaries and religious leaders. He was eulogized as a patriot, a statesman, and a man of God, who served his country and his church with distinction and integrity.
Net Worth and Income Sources
There is no official or reliable information about Ronnie Shikapwasha’s net worth or income sources. Her estimated net worth is around $2-3 million (approx.). However, based on some estimates and assumptions, it can be speculated that he had a considerable amount of wealth and assets, derived from his long and successful career in the military, politics, and ministry. Some of the possible sources of his income and wealth are:
- His salary and benefits as a lieutenant general of the Zambia Air Force, which he commanded from 1991 to 1997. According to the Zambia Defence Force Pay and Rank Structure, the current salary of a lieutenant general is about 25,000 Zambian kwacha (ZMW) per month, which is equivalent to about 1,200 US dollars (USD). Assuming that the salary was similar or higher in the past, Shikapwasha could have earned a substantial amount of money during his six years as the Air Force commander.
Trivia
- Shikapwasha was awarded the Order of Distinguished Service (ODS) and the Order of the Grand Companion of Freedom (OGCF) by President Chiluba in 1997 for his outstanding service to the nation.
- He was a staunch supporter of the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and advocated for regional integration and cooperation. He also championed the cause of peace and security in Africa, especially in the Great Lakes region, where he mediated in the conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi.
- He was a vocal critic of the PF government, which he accused of violating human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.
- He also opposed the constitutional amendment bill of 2019, which he said was aimed at entrenching the PF’s power and undermining the independence of the judiciary and the electoral commission.
- Shikapwasha was a lover of music and sports, especially soccer. He supported the Zambia national soccer team, the Chipolopolo, and was a patron of the Zambia Air Force soccer club, the Red Arrows.
- He also composed and sang several gospel songs, some of which were recorded and released as albums.
