Former Cabinet Minister and Independent parliamentary candidate for Nkeyema Constituency, Austin Chisangu Liato, has died at the age of 60.
A Career Spanning Two Decades
Liato served as Member of Parliament for Kaoma Central from 2002 to 2011, holding several senior government positions during his tenure including Deputy Minister of Energy, Minister for Lusaka Province, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Security, and later Minister of Labour and Social Security. He also represented Zambia in the Pan-African Parliament, contributing to continental legislative discussions.
His time as Labour Minister was marked by a major scandal in 2011, when K2.1 billion was discovered buried at his farm in Mwembeshi. He was subsequently convicted and sentenced to two years with hard labour, with both the money and the farm ordered forfeited.
A Return to Politics
Despite the scandal, Liato remained active in Zambian politics in the years that followed. He entered the 2026 general election race as an Independent candidate for Nkeyema Constituency, seeking a return to Parliament. Tributes have poured in from across the political spectrum, with many remembering him as a committed public servant whose career spanned more than two decades. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family in due course.
