George Chaponda

Dr. George T. Chaponda born (November 1, 1942 in Chonde Village, Mulanje District), is a Malawian diplomat and politician. Chaponda studied at the University of Delhi from 1963 to 1968 where he received degrees in history and political science. He studied law at the University of Zambia from 1976-79 and at Yale University from 1980 to 1984. He was admitted to the Bar in 1980. He held a number of senior positions in Zambia including Chief Executive of a parastal organisation. From 1984 to 2002, he worked mostly as a senior lawyer for the Office for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Somalia, Kenya, Thailand, Bangladesh, Switzerland, Austria, Poland and Ethiopia. From 2003-2004 he was Chairman of the University Council of the University of Malawi. In 2004 Chaponda entered Malawian politics and was elected as a Member of Parliament for the Mulanje South West. In June 2004, he was appointed Foreign Minister in the cabinet of the newly elected president Bingu wa Mutharika. He served in that position until 2005, when he was appointed Minister of Local Government and Rural Development for Malawi. Chaponda is a Christian, is married and has children.