Brian Mushimba
Dr. Brian C. Mushimba (born 7 November 1974) is a seasoned American trained engineer currently serving in the cabinet of the Zambian government. Before entering public service in 2016 as a way of giving back to his country of birth, he studied, graduated and practiced engineering in the United States, Europe and around Africa with increasing responsibilities to become a Regional Director/CEO In the electricity sector.[1] Prior to being appointed into cabinet, Mushimba was asked to stand and won the elections to become a member of Parliament and represent his home district. Mushimba's priorities as a member of Parliament have been around improving access to education, Healthcare and employment opportunities for his district. At a national level, and drawing on his vast energy background, he has focused on Energy issues in supporting government's agenda for increased energy security with market friendly energy policies. Through his foundation, he launched a "Mushimba Academic Scholarship" in 2017/2018 to take back to school all vulnerable kids in the constituency that had dropped out of school due to lack of financial sponsorship, many of them due to being orphaned. In its first year, the scholarship has sponsored 130 students at a cost of K236, 000 ($24,000). Further, recognizing the challenge of putting three meals on the table per day by the constituents, Mushimba started a farmer input support program that in its first year supported local farmers with farming inputs from fertilizers to seeds totaling k130,000 ($13,000); all these programs were funded from personal funds from Mushimba himself.[2]
Brian C. Mushimba | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Transport and Communications | |
| In office 29 September 2016 – 19 July 2019 | |
| President | Edgar Lungu |
| Preceded by | Kapembwa Simbao |
| Member of Parliament | |
| Assumed office 11 August 2016 | |
| President | Edgar Lungu 2015- |
| Constituency | Kankoyo |
| Minister of Higher Education | |
| Assumed office 19 July 2019 | |
| President | Edgar Lungu |
| Preceded by | Professor Nkandu Luo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 November 1974 Mufulira, Zambia |
| Nationality | Zambian |
| Political party | Patriotic Front (2001–present) |
| Spouse(s) | Brenda Mushimba |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Arizona (BS) Salem University (Masters) University of Zambia (PhD) |
| Profession | Engineer |
| Website | brianmushimba |
Early life and education
Mushimba was born in Mufulira, Zambia on 7 November 1974. Being one of the best student at primary and junior secondary schools in mufulira, he was admitted and completed his secondary education, 'O' levels and 'A' levels, at the prestigious Mpelembe Secondary School, a boarding school that boasted as the best high school in Zambia in 1993 and 1996 respectively. Continuing his academic brilliance and upon successful completion of his 'A' levels (Form Six), he proceeded on the academic scholarship by the Zambian Government to the University of Arizona in the United States where he earned an undergraduate degree in engineering. He subsequently received graduate degrees in business administration while in USA before returning to his home country. In Zambia, he completed his PhD in Environmental Engineering from the University of Zambia. His doctoral dissertation was on " Viability of carbon-neutral energy sources in pyroprocesses; waste to energy conversion."
Career
Upon graduating from the University of Arizona, Mushimba joined Siemens Power Generation in Atlanta, Georgia, USA as an electrical controls engineer. He subsequently worked for Lafarge in Atlanta before being transferred to Zambia. Between 2012 and 2013, he would work for Pratt & Whitney Power Systems in East Hartford, Connecticut as their Product Line Manager for the Aeroderivative Gas Turbine Business line. He then joined Eskom, the state electricity utility of South Africa, as their Technical Director and worked there up to 2016 before Statkraft, the state electricity utility of Norway, operating as SN Power, hired him as their Regional Executive for the African market. He would only stay in this role for a few months as he transitioned into public office by standing and winning a parliamentary seat for his childhood community of Kankoyo in the 2016 general elections. He subsequently was appointed into cabinet.
Personal life
Mushimba is of the Christian faith. He is married to Brenda Mushimba and they have two young sons.
References
- "Zambia : President Lungu appoints 9 more ministers to bring his cabinet size to 25 Ministers". 2016-09-29. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
- "Brian Mushimba | National Assembly of Zambia". www.parliament.gov.zm. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
