Japhen Mwakalombe

Japhen Mwakalombe (born 11 July 1970) is a Zambian politician and former Provincial Minister. A member of the Patriotic Front (PF), he served as the Member of Parliament for Chongwe constituency from 2016 to 2021 and held appointments as Provincial Minister in the Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces during that time.

Political career In the September 2011 general election, Mwakalombe stood as the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) candidate in Chongwe constituency and was elected. However, after the MMD finished as the runners-up in the presidential election, Mwakalombe decided to resign from being an MMD member in order to join the Patriotic Front (PF) and a by-election was held that November in which Sylvia Masebo (who was previously the Chongwe MP) was the PF candidate and was elected. Mwakalombe was then sent to the neighbouring Mozambique to be the High Commissioner for Zambia in that nation up to 2016.

By the time of the August 2016 general election, Masebo had joined the United Party for National Development (UPND) and Mwakalombe took her place as the PF candidate for the election, with Mwakalombe winning the Chongwe MP seat ahead of Masebo.

In September 2016, he was appointed as the Provincial Minister for Lusaka Province by President Edgar Lungu. In February 2018, Mwakalombe was transferred to being the Provincial Minister for Copperbelt Province, thereby exchanging roles with Bowman Lusambo.

In the August 2021 general election, Mwakalombe stood again as the Patriotic Front candidate in Chongwe constituency but finished as the runner-up, with Masebo of the UPND being re-elected.