Christon Tembo

Lt. Gen. Christon Tembo (24 May 1944^[1] – 6 March 2009) was a Zambian politician and army commander.^[2] He was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1995 to 1996 and the sixth vice-president of Zambia from 1997 to 2001. He ran for president in the December 2001 election and took third place, with about 13% of the vote.^[3]

Lieutenant General Christon Tembo
6th Vice-President of Zambia
In office 2 December 1997 – April 2001
President	Frederick Chiluba
Preceded by	Godfrey Miyanda
Succeeded by	Enoch Kavindele
Personal details
Born	(1944-05-24)24 May 1944
Died	6 March 2009(2009-03-06) (aged 64)
Political party	Movement for Multi-Party Democracy
Other political affiliations	Forum for Democracy and Development

In 1989, he and others were charged with plotting to overthrow President Kenneth Kaunda, which was judged as an act of treason worthy of the death penalty. He was defended in court successfully by attorney Levy Mwanawasa, who was elected as President in 2002.

He retired from military service in 1990 and joined the Movement for Multiparty Democracy as vice-president of the party under Frederick Chiluba, who became President in 1991. He fell out with Chiluba over the latter's attempt to gain a third term in office in 2001 and then formed the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) as a breakaway party, which he led until his death.

He died on March 6, 2009, in Lusaka.^[4]