Given Katuta Mwelwa


Given Katuta Mwelwa is a Zambian politician and member of parliament for Chiengi. She was first elected to parliament in 2016.

Early life and education

Katuta was born in Chiengi on 6 March 1969. She was given a Honorary Doctorate Degree in Public Administration from the London Graduate School of the Commonwealth University in 2022. She was given a Bachelor of Business Administration from Chalimbana University in Zambia in 2024.

Politics and career

Katuta was elected as the only Member of Parliament under the Forum for Democracy and Development party in the 2016 general election after beating the ruling Patriotic Front candidate in Chiengi constituency. In the 2021 general election, she was re-elected in Chiengi constituency as the only female Independent Member of Parliament in a male-dominated political space.
During her parliamentary work, she has served on various high-level committees such as the Committee on Cabinet Affairs, the Committee on Transport and Communication, Executive Committee Member of Caucus on Children’s Rights, Zambia Women Parliamentary Caucus, Zambia-China Friendship Association, and Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities. She has also chaired the Select Committee appointed to scrutinize the 2016 constitution and submit to Parliament. She also served as the Chair for the Select Committee appointed by the Speaker of the Zambian Parliament to scrutinize the appointment of judges. She won the African Women Summit award in 2023.

Personal life

Katuta is married to Lawrence Mwelwa, a former university vice-chancellor at Chreso University.