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2011 ZAMBIAN HOLIDAYS
1^st JAN	New Year's Day
8^th MAR	Int'l Women's day
12^th MAR	Youth day
22^nd APR	Good Friday
23^rd APR	Holy Saturday
24^th APR	Easter Sunday
25^th APR	Easter Monday
1^st MAY	Labour Day
2^nd MAY	Public Holiday
25^th MAY	Africa Freedom Day
4^th JUL	Heroes Day
5^th JUL	Unity Day
1^st AUG	Farmer's Day
24^th OCT	Independence Day
25^th DEC	Christmas Day
26^th DEC	Public Holiday
2011 CANADIAN HOLIDAYS
JAN 1^st	New Year’s Day
APR 2^nd	Good Friday
APR 5^th	Easter Monday
MAY 24^th	Victoria Day
JUL 1^st	Canada Day
SEP 6^th	Labour Day
OCT 11^th	Thanksgiving Day
NOV 11^th	Remembrance Day
DEC 25^th	Christmas Day
DEC 26^th	Boxing Day
Note: The Embassy will be closed on the above Zambian and Canadian Public holidays.

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CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER!

Dr. Nevers Mumba - Acceptance Speech Zambia's High Commissioner to Canada, Dr. Nevers Mumba, has been elected as the new President of the Ottawa Diplomatic Association (ODA). In his acceptance speech Dr. Mumba thanked the delegates at the XII General Assembly of ODA for the confidence placed in him by the members. He stated that, he accepted the honour on behalf of his country Zambia, and Africa as a whole.

Dr. Mumba is the first African Head of Mission to ever hold the Presidency of ODA. The nominated candidate's name is circulated through the various regional groups, for endorsement, i.e. the European Union, the Americas, the African, the Asian, the Arab, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. It is then floated at the Annual General Assembly.

The ODA consists of Diplomatic Agents of Foreign Countries and members of International Organizations accredited to Canada. The Governor General of Canada is the Patron of the Organization.

Dr. Mumba's team includes, among others, First Vice-President, H.E. Johann Georg M. Witschel, German Ambassador, H.E. Akbar Zeb, Pakistan's Ambassador to Canada.

A copy of Dr. Mumba's Acceptance Speech can be viewed here.

Major Roles and responsibilities of the High Commissioner

• The High Commissioner is appointed by the President of Zambia to be an official representative of the President of the Republic of Zambia, the Government and people of Zambia.

• Head of the High Commission

• Explaining the Zambian Government policies to the Canadian Government, accredited countries and their peoples and also explaining the Canadian Government policies and those of accredited countries to the Zambian Government.

• Enhancing and maintaining foreign relations in order to promote, protect and enhance Zambia’s foreign interests

Current High Commissioner - Dr. NEVERS S. MUMBA (2009- present)

PROFILE

Nevers Mumba was sworn in as Zambia’s High Commissioner to Canada on March 29th, 2009 by His Excellency Mr. Rupiah B. Banda, President of the Republic of Zambia, and officially took office on July 8th, 2009 in Ottawa, Canada.

Dr. Mumba came into prominence in 1989 when he launched a nationwide television broadcast called, “Zambia Shall be Saved.” He became the first member of the Zambian Clergy to get on national television with a Christian message that “Zambia can be and should be better.” His charismatic messages immediately set him apart as a reformer and commanded a huge following both in Zambia and the surrounding nations. Presidents both prayed and consulted with him.

Between 1989 and 2001, Dr. Mumba established more than 52 Churches in Zambia, Namibia and Botswana. He pioneered the Victory College which is now transitioning into a Premier Christian University. He founded the Zambia Shall be Saved Foundation which has concentrated on humanitarian efforts across the country.

In 1997, Dr. Mumba together with several eminent Zambians founded the National Christian Coalition (NCC), a Christian movement aimed at encouraging men and women of integrity to participate in National Politics. A year later in 1998, the movement was transformed into a political party and changed its names to National Citizens Coalition and Dr. Mumba was elected its first President.

In 2001, Dr. Mumba contested the Presidency on the NCC ticket but was unsuccessful. In 2003, the late President Levy Mwanawasa invited Dr. Mumba and the NCC to integrate and work together in the fight against corruption. Dr. Mumba was appointed Vice President of the Republic of Zambia on May 28th, 2003.

As Vice President, Dr. Mumba assisted the late President in communicating the vision of government to the population through a deliberate public relations program. He introduced the live Government Forum Radio Broadcast in which each Cabinet Minister was expected to face the nation once per month to answer questions on their performance. This brought government closer to the people. He helped to champion the review of the new electoral law and assisted in the establishment of the constitutional review process which is meant to expand on the liberties of Zambians both in the electoral process and social welfare. As Vice President he represented Zambia in many International Fora and articulated Zambia’s Foreign Policy.

In his current posting as High Commissioner to Canada, Dr. Mumba has announced an open door policy for all Zambians living in Canada, and has encouraged them to fully participate in making Zambia the greatest destination of all time.

Nevers Mumba was born on May 18th, 1960 in Chinsali, Zambia. He completed his secondary education at the Prestigious, Hillcrest Technical Secondary School in the tourist capital of Livingstone in 1978. He studied instrumentation under the mines between 1979- 1981. He then obtained an Associate Theology Degree at Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas, Texas between 1982 and 1984. He was further awarded an Honorary Doctoral Degree by International Seminary, Flint Michigan in 1995. He holds a Masters Degree in Public Policy from Regent University in Virginia, Beach, VA. Dr. Mumba and his wife Florence have five children, Shumo-el, Tehillah, Ye-hoshua, Mica-el and Natasha.