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About Wila D'Israeli

Mung'omba as told by his daughter Chitupa

 

Husband- Father - Grandfather - Brother- Uncle - Lawyer - Diplomat - Philanthropist - Friend - Businessman - Chairman -Intellect- Lawyer -

Patriot - Pioneer - Monsieur Le President.  

Click here for the leadership legacy of Wila Mung'omba as a true leader of Africa 

 

As a boy. My father told me stories of having had to walk 20kms a day to go to school. Other than that i only got insight into the place where my father grew up when as a young girl i visited our grandparents, bamayo and batata in Mbala. My father lived near a lake; he loved to eat dry sweet potatoes and he loved his parents. Life was simple and he was poor. Education and sheer determination was a way and his way out of poverty.

 

As a young man. My father later went to a school in the city of Lusaka called Munali boys, and then got a scholarship to go to the University in Uganda. From there he got a scholarship to the Inns of Court in London to study Law. His life would change forever after that. 

 

As a husband. My father met my mother at the Inns of Court in London. It was an unlikely union as he was from Africa and she was from the Caribbean Islands of Trinidad and Tobago. Two people from two different Contients fell in love, and as they say, the rest is history. I can only profess the words of my mother here which is that: "Wila is my everything." He was a dedicated husband and adored my mother, Linda. Their marriage was one of a kind and based on committment, sacrafice, family and love.

 

As a pioneer. The accolades accrued to my father are long and deserve perhaps a different forum. To mention a few though, my father became a lawyer in Zambia when African lawyers were unheard of.  He firstly enjoyed thoroughly working for a law firm called 'Jaques and partners' where he was to meet one of his long time great friends Mr. Paul Cave. My father eventually set up his own law firm in Zambia with his wife Linda, John Mwanakatwe and Bevin Wilombe called, MMW& Co. He worked for International banks. He worked for the IMF. He also became the President of the African Development Bank (ADB) in Cote D'Ivoire and has been the only President appointed from Southern Africa, to do so thus far (2015). At the ADB he achieved great firsts. One such example can be seen by the letter and speech read by the then President of America - Ronald Reagan to the President of The African Development Bank.

Click here for the speech by USA President Reagan to ADB President Mung'omba.

 

For further WDM reference go to the America Presidents Project website. 

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=40872

 

Wila set up the first indegenous bank in Zambia, with the Penza's and other Zambian icons, called Capital Bank, which in its era was evolutionary. Through mergers and joint ventures this bank has metamorphosized into the current bank CAVMONT. He was an entrepreneur, he was a great patriot and he held the Zambian flag high in whichever circles he was in. He set up Mung'omba Associates, a law firm offering legal consultancy and advisory work. Wila got to further explore, understand and contribute significantly to his country when he was asked to review the Zambian Constitution of referred to as the  Mungomba Constitution.

 

He dedicated what was to become the last few years of his life, to Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holdings - ZCCM-IH, as Ecexutive Chairman. He sat on many local Zambian and International Boards, too many to mention. He was passionate and forward thinking throughout his career. His legacy in all its forms shall live on.

 

As my father, he was exceptional. We had a relationship that was honest, open and real. He treated me like a princess. At times we were both stubborn, but we had a great understanding, respect and unconditional love for each other. The relationship that we had was one that i have further explored and contributed a whole other forum to as he cherished me as a daughter until the day he died. where as a daughter, you can also contribute your stories to GREAT father daughter relationships.Please contact Chitupa 

These stories shall one day be compiled into a blog site.

 

 

As a grandfather he was incredibly loving. His eyes lit up every time one of his granddaughters entered the room. When his first grandchildren, Monique was born he held her and never let go of her. Every conversation and thought included her. His other granddaughters came soon after. They were the joy, delight and pride of his life. He laughed with them, read with them, played with them and was rejuvenated by their presence. He was a fantastic grandfather and had a special bond with Raquel, Jordan, Maya and Clarissa.

 

If i could sum up the essence of my experience of Wila in 5 words it would be:

 

Honest

Courageous

"Thought provoking"

Generous

Present

 

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