Reuben Mtolo Phiri

Reuben Mtolo Phiri
Minister of Agriculture
In office
7 September 2021 – 15 May 2026
PresidentHakainde Hichilema
Preceded byMicheal Zondani Katambo
Member of the National Assembly for Chipata Central
In office
August 2021 – 15 May 2026
Preceded byMoses Mawere
In office
September 2011 – May 2016
Preceded byLameck Mangani
Succeeded byMoses Mawere
Personal details
Born (1964-11-11) 11 November 1964 (age 61)
Lusaka, Zambia
PartyMovement for Multi-Party Democracy (2011-2021)
United Party for National Development (2021-)
EducationUniversity of Zambia
OccupationPolitician

Reuben Mtolo Phiri is a Zambian politician who served as the Minister of Agriculture from 2021 to 2026 and was the member of parliament for Chipata Central on two occasions (2011 to 2016 and 2021 to 2026). He is currently a member of the United Party for National Development (UPND) and previously associated with the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy. He was born on 11 November 1964.

Political career

Reuben Mtolo Phiri stood as the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) candidate for member of parliament (MP) in Chipata Central at the 2011 general election and he was elected. He stood again as the MMD candidate for MP in Chipata Central at the 2016 general election and he finished second to Moses Mawere.

At the 2021 general election, he stood as the United Party for National Development (UPND) candidate for MP in Chipata Central and he was re-elected to parliament. After the UPND won the presidential election at the 2021 general election, he was appointed as the Minister of Agriculture in September 2021 by president Hakainde Hichilema.

In April 2026, the Chipata Central constituency was split into two constituencies (Chipata Central and Chipata North). Reuben Mtolo Phiri decided to stand as the UPND candidate for MP in Chipata North at the 2026 general election and he finished second, with Jackson Ngoma of the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity winning the parliamentary seat.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Reuben Mtolo Phiri | National Assembly of Zambia". www.parliament.gov.zm. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  2. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2025-01-20. Retrieved 2024-02-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ↑ "Cabinet". ZambiaInvest. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  4. 1 2 gregkawere (2021-09-11). "Zambian President Hichilema's 1st cabinet – 25 ministers (21 males & 4 females)". Povo News. Retrieved 2025-08-05.
  5. 1 2 "HH Names Full Cabinet, Appoints New BOZ Governor". Open Zambia. 2021-09-08. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  6. ↑ "Ministers | National Assembly of Zambia". www.parliament.gov.zm. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  7. ↑ 2011 National Assembly Election Results
  8. ↑ 2016 National Assembly Election Results
  9. ↑ 2021 National Assembly Election Results
  10. ↑ ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF ZAMBIA ANNOUNCES 70 NEW PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCIES - National Assembly
  11. ↑ ECZ Chairperson Speech - Announcement of 70 new constituencies - Electoral Commission of Zambia
  12. ↑ zamobserver (2026-05-19). "List of adopted UPND candidates for parliamentary seats in Eastern Province - The Zambian Observer". Retrieved 2026-05-26.
  13. ↑ Nominated Candidates - Electoral Commission of Zambia
  14. ↑ zamobserver (2026-08-15). "UPND'S Rueben Mutolo Phiri, Former Minister of Agriculture has lost the Chipata North Parliamentary Seat - The Zambian Observer". Retrieved 2026-08-20.
  15. ↑ Phiri, Namo (2026-08-16). "More bigwigs tumble as Iris, Jay Jay's sister Pauline Banda go to Parley". Zambia: News Diggers!. Retrieved 2026-08-18.