Nkandu Luo

Nkandu Phoebe Luo (born 21 December 1951) is a Zambian physician and politician who is currently Minister of Higher Education. She is a microbiologist who previously served as head of Pathology and Microbiology at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka and has carried out extensive research into HIV/AIDS.

Luo was born in Lubwa Mission Hospital in Chinsali on 21 December 1951. Her parents were both teachers and Luo was one of eight surviving children. She attended Roma Girls Secondary School and Dominican Convent. She has a MSc in microbiology from Moscow State University and a MSc and PhD in immunology from Brunei University.

Luo worked at Saint Mary's Hospital in London. She became a professor in microbiology and immunology at the University of Zambia in 1993 and worked as Head of Pathology and Microbiology at the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia. She has published numerous journal articles on HIV/AIDS.

Luo was elected to parliament representing the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy in the Mandevu constituency in 1996. She served as Deputy Minister of Health from 1997–1999 and Health Minister in 1999, however she clashed with both donors and health workers and was moved from the post in November 1999 and replaced by David Mpamba. She was Minister of Transport and Communications from 1999–2001 before losing her seat in the 2001 election.

Luo created a network of thirty national AIDS advocacy groups and founded non-profit organisation Tasintha, which seeks to free Zambia from commercial sex-work and HIV/AIDS. She established the National AIDS Control program, the National Blood Transfusion Service and the Prevention of Mother to Child transmission of HIV/AIDS program.

Luo was elected as the Patriotic Front representative for Munali constituency in 2011. She was appointed as Minister of Local Government and Housing by Michael Sata, serving from 2011–2014, and then became Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs from 2014–2015. Luo was sworn in as Minister of Gender by Edgar Lungu in February 2015. In March 2016, Luo was adopted as President of the Women Parliamentary caucus at the 134th Inter Parliamentary Union conference in Lusaka. In September 2016, she became Zambia's Higher Education Minister.

Luo separated from her urologist husband Francis Manda in 1998.