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