Zambia Appoints Honorary Consul in Georgia

Zambia has become the latest African nation to name an honorary consul in Georgia, a local member of its diaspora appointed to represent the country’s interests in the state.

The state’s latest volunteer diplomat is Anna Ndashe Katema Banda, a neurohospitalist at Piedmont Hospital in Fayetteville who has long been active in metro Atlanta’s Zambian community.

Dr. Katema is a founder of Atlanta Zambian Women With Influence, a nonprofit focused on empowering women and children in the southern African nation of 21 million, with a particular focus on educating orphaned girls.

“I am honored to be appointed as the first honorary consul for Zambia in Atlanta and to contribute to strengthening the ties between our two regions,” Dr. Katema told Global Atlanta via email. “I am committed to fostering collaboration across various sectors, including trade, education, and cultural exchange, to elevate Zambia’s presence in the business landscape of southern Africa.”

The appointment comes just after Chibamba Kanyama, Zambia’s ambassador to the United States, made another visit to Atlanta to headline a Books for Africa fundraiser in late September.

Other local Zambian organizations including Zambians Promoting Leadership in America, welcomed Dr. Katema to her new role.

“Her appointment marks a significant step in Zambia’s outreach and partnership-building efforts, and we are thrilled to see the potential for collaboration grow under her guidance,” said Freda Mwamba Brazle, founder of ZLA, which welcomed the ambassador to Atlanta for its annual “Shifting Mindsets” conference in 2023. ZLA also awarded Dr. Katema its community leadership award.

Her addition to the consular corps in Georgia, more than 70 nations strong, makes Zambia the 12th African nation with diplomatic representation in the state.

Nigeria hosts the only African career consulate, while 11 other countries have utilized honorary consuls to advance their goals. South Africa has long hinted at its desire to appoint an honorary consul, but it, along with other large players like Kenya, has yet to appoint one.

Nico Wijnberg, the state’s chef of protocol, confirmed that Dr. Katema has been accredited to Georgia by the U.S. Department of State and said the state continues to draw interest from countries in part because of its advantages for commercial diplomacy.

“Our strategic location, global connectivity, and robust international community offer a springboard for companies, creating opportunities for Georgia through trade and investment. We are therefore delighted to welcome Zambia, a growing economic power in southern Africa, to our international community,” Mr. Wijnberg said.

Born in the Zambian capital of Lusaka, Dr. Katema started her medical career as a certified nursing assistant in Indianapolis, then pursued an educational career that saw her graduate from Virginia College of Medicine in 2012 before going on to study vascular neurology at Emory University.

She believes that “to whom much is given, much is also required” and that education is the greatest gift one can be given.

See her full bio on the Zambian embassy’s website