Zambia: Church Chronology

1942–45 • Northern RhodesiaSeveral families moved to Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) from South Africa, Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), and the United States.

1943 • Luanshya, Northern RhodesiaThe first known Sunday School meetings in Northern Rhodesia were held in the Frederick J. and Georgina Spear home.

September 28, 1947 • Ndola, Northern RhodesiaJohanna and William A. Jubber Jr. were the first known converts to be baptized in Northern Rhodesia.

April–June 1951 • Northern RhodesiaThe South African Mission received government permission to send missionaries into Northern Rhodesia. The Luanshya Branch was organized June 18, 1951, with Frederick J. Spear as president.

October 1958 • LuanshyaElder Harold B. Lee of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, accompanied by his wife, Fern Lee, became the first Apostle to visit what is now Zambia.

October 24, 1964 • ZambiaNorthern Rhodesia became the independent Republic of Zambia.

May 16, 1965 • Kitwe, ZambiaThe Copperbelt Branch meetinghouse opened, becoming the first meetinghouse in Zambia.

August 1969 • ZambiaThe government of Zambia declined to renew existing missionary visas or issue new ones, leading to a long hiatus from full-time missionary work.

1990 • Salt Lake City, UtahGospel Principles, including a selection of hymns and children’s songs, was published in the Bemba language.

November 1991 • ZambiaFrederick Chiluba of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy became Zambia’s second elected president. The end of one-party rule opened up new possibilities for the Church in the country.

Lusaka Branch members

September–December 1991 • Kitwe and Lusaka, Zambia

Zimbabwe Harare Mission president Vern L. Marble visited members who had joined the Church while living in England.

December 29, 1991 • LusakaTwenty-one people attended a sacrament meeting in the Johnson and Noria Makombé home. By June 1992 the number of people attending had increased to 50.

April 1992 • ZambiaSenior missionaries R. Deane and Ruth Harrison began missionary work in Zambia. R. Deane Harrison also volunteered his professional skills in range and pasture management to the University of Zambia, helping Zambians manage the effects of the severe 1991–92 drought.

May 10, 1992 • LusakaVeronica Milimo became the first known native person baptized in Zambia after the missionaries’ return. The baptismal service was held at the Lusaka municipal pool.

June 14, 1992 • LusakaThe Lusaka Branch was organized with Johnson Makombé as branch president and Veronica Milimo as Relief Society president.

July 27, 1992 • ZambiaThe government of Zambia formally recognized the Church.

August 20, 1992 • ZambiaElder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated Zambia for the preaching of the gospel.

1995 • ZambiaThe seminary program was established.

September 2, 2001 • Johannesburg, South AfricaForty-seven members traveled by bus to the Johannesburg South Africa Temple to receive their temple ordinances and to do work for their deceased ancestors.

October 2002–January 2003 • Copperbelt Province, ZambiaThree decades after their dissolution, branches were again established in the Copperbelt: Luanshya with Daniel S. Kanta as president, Kitwe with Goodson M. Kapata as president, and Ndola with Cretus Kapato as president.

2005 • KitweThe Kitwe Zambia District was organized with Goodson M. Kapata as president.

July 2011 • LusakaThe Zambia Lusaka Mission was organized.

September 2012 • ZambiaLatter-day Saints volunteered over 7,600 hours to help in a national campaign to immunize over six million Zambian children against measles.

February 8, 2015 • Ndola, ZambiaThe Ndola Zambia District was organized with Cretus Kapato as president.

stake presidency

March 15, 2015 • Lusaka

The first stake in Zambia, the Lusaka Zambia Stake, was created, with Harrison Lumbama as president. Mildred Mwakamui was sustained as stake Relief Society president.