Elias Munshya
# Elias Munshya

Elias Munshya (born 28 September 1978) is a Zambian lawyer, politician and diplomat who serves as Zambia's High Commissioner to Australia and New Zealand. He was appointed by President Hakainde Hichilema to the position in 2023.

## Early life

Munshya was born in 1978 in Chiwempala Township in a mining town of Chingola. He attended among other schools, Mpezeni Park Primary School and Chipata Konkola Primary School. In 1996, he completed high school at Chingola Secondary School.

## Education and career

Munshya has a BA in theology degree, a law degree, an MBA and a PhD in political theology. He moved to Canada where he was called to the Alberta Bar on 3 May 2016. Since then, he has practiced in Calgary, Alberta as a civil litigator. In 2018, he represented the family of Bolanle Alo, a Nigerian national who died after an alternacation with Canadian border agents on a plane at Calgary International Airport. At the time of his death, Alo was being deported from Canada to Nigeria. Munshya is a Vice chair of the Personal Injury section of the Canadian Bar Association and board member of the Alberta Civil Trial Association. He holds 8 qualifications from different institutions.

In 2022, he was appointed by Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema to serve as Zambia's envoy to Australia and New Zealand. On his credence presentation, he wore a traditional attire, which earned him praise from Africans for culture in practice

