Jean KapataJean Kapata (born 25 December 1960) is a Zambian politician and former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources. CareerKapata worked as a theatre nurse before being elected to represent the Mandevu constituency at the 2006 election for the Patriotic Front. She was re-elected in 2011 and 2016.[1][2] Kapata served as Deputy Minister of Community Development, Mother & Child Health. On 2 October 2009, she was arrested with nine other Patriotic Front MPs after they protested the acquittal of former president Frederick Chiluba with car honks and whistles. They were released on 7 October.[3] In 2014, Kapata was appointed by President Michael Sata as Minister for Tourism and Arts.[4] Under her tenure, the ban on big-game hunting cats in Zambia was lifted.[5][6] In response to the international media attention surrounding the killing of Cecil the lion in neighbouring Zimbabwe, Kapata said, "the West seemed more concerned with the welfare of a lion in Zimbabwe than of Africans themselves."[7][8] Kapata was a member of the Zambia delegation to the United Nations 60th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women in March 2016.[9] In the lead up to the August 2016 election Kapata received death threats and her driver was attacked by armed men demanding to know where she was.[10] The MMD candidate for her constituency, Mary Phiri, accused Kapata of sending people to attack her campaign team.[11] On 27 September 2016, she became Minister for Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.[12] She is also the Patriotic Front's Chairperson for Elections.[13][14] Personal lifeKapata is married and is a mother and grandmother.[11] In 2013, First Lady Christine Kaseba officiated the wedding of Kapata's daughter.[15] References
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