Austin Liato
{{short description|Zambian politician}}
{{Infobox AM
| name = Austin Liato
| image =
| office = Minister of Labour and Social Security
| term_start = 2008
| term_end = 2011
| predecessor =
| successor = Fackson Shamenda
| office2 = Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Security
| term_start2 = 2006
| term_end2 = 2008
| predecessor2 =
| successor2 =
| office3 = Minister for Lusaka Province
| term_start3 = 2005
| term_end3 = 2006
| predecessor3 =
| successor3 =
| office4 = Deputy Minister of Energy
| term_start4 = 2005
| term_end4 = 2005
| predecessor4 = Stephen Manjata
| successor4 =
| office5 = Member of the National Assembly for Kaoma Central
| term_start5 = 2002
| term_end5 = 2011
| predecessor5 = Handson Nyundu
| successor5 = Carlos Antonio
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|8|23|df=y}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| profession = Accountant
}}
Austin Chisangu Liato (born 23 August 1965)[http://www.parliament.gov.zm/node/4078 Austin Liato] National Assembly of Zambia is a Zambian politician. He served as a member of the National Assembly for Kaoma Central between 2002 and 2011 and as Minister of Labour and Social Security from 2008 until 2011.
Biography
Prior to entering politics, Liato was an accountant. He was also involved in trade unions and served as president of the Zambia Electricity and Allied Workers Union and Vice-President of the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions.[https://www.lusakatimes.com/2012/06/11/western-province-youth-endorse-liato-mmd-vicepresident/ Western Province Youth endorse Liato for MMD vice-president] Lusaka Times, 7 June 2012J. Kraus (2007) Trade Unions and the Coming of Democracy in Africa, Springer, p144 He was the United Party for National Development (UPND) candidate in Kaoma Central in the 2001 general elections and was elected to the National Assembly with a 1,169-vote majority.[https://www.elections.org.zm/media/parliamentaryresults_2001.pdf 2001 parliamentary election results] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305035420/http://www.elections.org.zm/media/parliamentaryresults_2001.pdf |date=2016-03-05 }} Electoral Commission of Zambia During his first term in parliament he was a member of the Pan-African Parliament.[https://web.archive.org/web/20091104105558/http://www.africa-union.org/organs/pan%20african%20parliament/List%20of%20Members%20pap.pdf List of members of the Pan-African Parliament] Africa Union In 2003 he defected to the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) and was re-elected in a by-election.[https://www.africaportal.org/documents/1921/OP36.pdf Parties in Parliament: The Relationship between Members of Parliament and their Parties in Zambia] EISA In January 2005 he was appointed Minister for Copperbelt Province, but the appointment was cancelled by President Levy Mwanawasa after it became known that Liato had a court matter ongoing.[http://allafrica.com/stories/200501110035.html Liato In, Out] Times of Zambia, 11 January 2005 He was subsequently appointed Deputy Minister of Energy in May 2005,[http://allafrica.com/stories/200503250359.html Levy to Expose MMD Corruption] The Post, 25 March 2005 before being appointed Minister for Lusaka Province later in the year.[http://allafrica.com/stories/200512120614.html Levy's Unnecessary Desperation] The Post, 11 December 2005
Prior to the 2006 general elections Liato defected to the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy. He was re-elected with an increased majority of 1,700.[https://www.elections.org.zm/media/parliamentary_results_2006.pdf 2006 parliamentary election results] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417040936/http://www.elections.org.zm/media/parliamentary_results_2006.pdf |date=2018-04-17 }} Electoral Commission of Zambia Following the elections, Liato was appointed Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Security.[https://www.sardc.net/en/southern-african-news-features/new-zambian-cabinet-appointed-by-president-levy-mwanawasa-on-9-october-2006/ New Zambian cabinet appointed by President Levy Mwanawasa on 9 October 2006] SARDC, October 2006 He was promoted to become Minister of Labour and Social Security in 2008.[http://allafrica.com/stories/200811150152.html Banda Unveils Cabinet] Times of Zambia, 15 November 2008
Liato was defeated by UPND candidate Carlos Antonio in the 2011 general elections.[http://www.elections.org.zm/media/28092011_2011_national_assembly_elections_results.pdf 2011 parliamentary election results] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305044228/http://www.elections.org.zm/media/28092011_2011_national_assembly_elections_results.pdf |date=2016-03-05 }} Electoral Commission of Zambia He left the MMD in 2012 and returned to the UPND.[https://zambiareports.com/2012/08/22/upnd-welcomes-liato-after-resignation-from-mmd/ UPND Welcomes Liato after Resignation from MMD] Zambia Reports, 22 August 2012
In 2011 Liato was convicted of possession of money reasonably suspected to be the proceeds of crime. Although the ruling was initially overturned by Lusaka High Court, the State took the case to the Supreme Court, and in 2015 he was jailed with hard labour for 24 months and was also ordered to forfeit his farm and K2.1m that had been found buried on his land.[https://www.lusakatimes.com/2015/06/03/supreme-court-sends-former-minister-austin-liato-to-jail-for-24-months/ Supreme Court sends former Minister Austin Liato to Jail for 24 months] Lusaka Times, 3 June 2015 However, he was released from prison in August on compassionate grounds after spending a month in hospital.[https://www.lusakatimes.com/2015/08/24/convicted-former-labour-minister-austin-liato-released-from-prison/ Convicted Former Labour Minister Austin Liato released from Prison] Lusaka Times, 24 August 2015
Liato contested Kaoma Central in the 2016 general elections as the Patriotic Front candidate, but was defeated by Morgan Sitwala of the UPND.[https://www.elections.org.zm/results/2016_national_assembly_elections/constituency/kaoma_central Candidate results for Kaoma Central] Electoral Commission of Zambia
References
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Category:Zambian trade unionists
Category:Members of the Pan-African Parliament from Zambia
Category:Members of the National Assembly of Zambia
Category:United Party for National Development politicians
Category:Movement for Multi-Party Democracy politicians
Category:Patriotic Front (Zambia) politicians
Category:Provincial ministers of Zambia