Biographical Sketch of Linda Konayuma

By Gabriel S Konayuma

Linda Konayuma (in above photograph) was born on 15^th March 1971 at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka to the late Josiah and Betty Konayuma. She was the second born with three brothers and one sister. Gabriel was born on 12^th February 1968, Catherine Mwenya and Kenneth were born on 21^st June 1972 and Tendai was born on 14^th July 1983. Linda did her primary school in Monze (where she lived with the late Uncle Eliphaz Konayuma and the family), Lusaka Girls Primary School and Northmead Primary School where she completed her primary education in 1985. Linda did her secondary school education from 1986 to 1990 at Chipembi Girls Secondary School in Chisamba and Kabulonga Girls Secondary School. From 1991 to 1993 she was a student at the University of Zambia where she studied Public Administration. Linda also did some short courses in Public Health and Information Technology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in the USA.

From 1993 to 1994 Linda (seen relaxing in above photograph) worked as a Purchasing and Stores Manager at Suraka Limited, a Printing, Stationery and Motor spares part supplier, in Lusaka. Linda also worked for Project San Francisco (an HIV Research Centre) in Lusaka  from 1994 to 1997, as a Researcher/Project Administrative Assistant where she was involved in the co-ordination of  Project San Francisco as an NGO with other NGO’s through workshops and seminars held nation-wide. She also worked as a work-study student at Project San Francisco headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama where she assisted the Project Director in various administrative tasks. Linda also worked as a Contracts Officer and Administrative Assistant at Windsor Properties in Lusaka in 1997 from July to October. Other places where Linda worked were in South Africa as an Information Technology teacher in 2000 and at Milko in Lusaka where she worked up to January 2005 when she resigned.

     Linda fourth from left standing next to dad Josiah Konayuma and Kenneth & Catherine (1989)


Linda was generally quiet, intelligent and loved reading a lot. She got on well with her siblings, parents, relatives and friends. She also showed a remarkable ability to deal with set backs in life. For instance, when she had to leave school in Monze  and Chipembi due to illness, she continued her studies in Lusaka and completed her primary and secondary school education respectively. When she was re-directed from the University of Zambia she was able to get employment at Project San Francisco and take care of her own affairs without bothering mum or her siblings.

On 9^th February 2005, Linda was taken ill and admitted to Hilltop Hospital in Lusaka. She passed away aged 33 on 17^th February 2005 at 01 10 hours. Linda is survived by three brothers and a sister. She is greatly missed by all who knew her and loved her.