Robinson Nabulyato Explained

Robinson Nabulyato
Office:Speaker of the National Assembly
Term Start:1991
Term End:1998
Predecessor:Fwanyanga Mulikita
Successor:Amusaa Mwanamwambwa
Office2:Speaker of the National Assembly
Term Start2:1968
Term End2:1988
Predecessor2:Wesley Nyirenda
Successor2:Fwanyanga Mulikita
Office3:African Member of the Legislative Council
Term Start3:1954
Term End3:1958
Birth Date:28 October 1916
Death Place:Lusaka, Zambia
Profession:Teacher

Robinson Mwaakwe Nabulyato (28 October 1916 – 12 September 2004) was a Zambian politician. He served as a member of the Legislative Council of Northern Rhodesia between 1954 and 1958 and then Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia from 1968 until 1988 and again from 1991 until 1998.

Biography

Nabulyato was born in Banamwaze in 1916,[1] and attended Methodist mission schools in Nanzila and Kafue.[2] He later attended Chalimbana College, going on to work as a teacher.[2] He joined the Northern Rhodesian Congress in 1948 and became its Secretary-General.[2]

In 1954 Nabulyato became a member of the Legislative Council after being appointed as one of the four African members, representing Southern Province.[3] He contested the South-Western seat in the 1959 general elections, running as an independent against Congress leader Harry Nkumbula, but was heavily defeated.[4]

In 1968 Nabulyato was chosen as the Speaker of the National Assembly after Wesley Nyirenda had resigned to take up a ministerial position. He remained Speaker until retiring in 1988.[2] However, three years later he was chosen as the Speaker for the first multi-party National Assembly since the early 1970s.[2] He retired again in 1998.[2] He died in the Kabulonga suburb of Lusaka on 12 September 2004.[5] [6]

Honours and awards

Nabulyato was awarded the Order of the Grand Companion of Freedom in 1965.[2] In 1972 he was made a Knight Grand Band of the Humane Order of African Redemption by Liberian President William R. Tolbert Jr.[2] The University of Zambia gave him an honorary LL.D in October 1984.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Robinson Nabulyato (2008) African Realities: A Memoir, African Books Collective, p1
  2. Ng'ona Mwela Chibesakunda (2001) The Parliament of Zambia, p38
  3. "N. Rhodesian Changes: Unofficial Members' Responsibilities", The Times, 15 January 2011, p7, Issue 52830
  4. "Northern Rhodesian Election Results", East Africa and Rhodesia, 2 April 1959, p913
  5. http://allafrica.com/stories/200409140257.html Former Speaker Nabulyato Dies
  6. http://allafrica.com/stories/200409160338.html Farewell Nabulyato