Chibesa Kankasa

Chibesa Chibesakunda Kankasa, often known as Mama Kankasa (1936–2018) was a Zambian freedom fighter and politician.

Life Chibesa Chibesakunda Kankasa was born on 23 March 1936 at Lubwa Mission in Chinsali. She was the sixth child of Yotam Chibesakunda, a carpenter, and Chilufya Mununga Mutale Chibwe. She had 10 siblings, including Jackson Ng'ona Chibesakunda, Jericho Ng'ona Chibesakunda, Smart Yasa Ng'ona Chibesakunda, Margaret Chibesakunda, Chanda Chibesakunda, Kunda Chibesakunda and Friday Ng'ona Chibesakunda. In 1941 her parents moved to Chalimbana, and later to Kitwe. She attended Mingolo Girls Boarding School, and later studied to become a social worker, specialising in matrimonial and juvenile delinquency cases. She worked as a social worker from 1951 to 1961.

She married Timothy Kansasa in 1952.