29/07/2026
The Zambia Ophthalmological Society (ZOS) joins the medical profession, the Government of the Republic of Zambia, the people of Southern Province and the nation in mourning the passing of Dr Namani H. Monze, who died at Choma General Hospital on Tuesday, 28 July 2026, after an illness. He was 52.
At the time of his death, Dr Monze was serving as Permanent Secretary for Southern Province.
His passing is a profound loss to his family, to the people of Southern Province, and to Zambia's medical and ophthalmology community.
An accomplished ophthalmologist:
Dr Monze obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Zambia in 2001, before going on to complete a Master of Medicine in Ophthalmology at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, in 2007.
His postgraduate dissertation, “Review of Childhood Cataract Surgery at Kikuyu Eye Unit,” reflected an early commitment to understanding and reducing the burden of preventable childhood blindness.
Commitment to eye health:
Although his responsibilities increasingly moved into senior public administration, Dr Monze remained an ophthalmologist at heart. He continued to speak publicly about the burden of cataract, visual impairment and avoidable blindness, particularly among older people and underserved communities.
As a member of the Zambia Ophthalmological Society (ZOS) and the College of Ophthalmology of Eastern, Central and Southern Africa (COECSA), he belonged to a generation of African ophthalmologists who contributed both to specialist clinical care and to the development of stronger national and regional eye-health systems.
His life is a reminder that the contribution of an ophthalmologist can extend far beyond the consulting room or operating theatre — through leadership, policy, administration and advocacy — to services that touch lives across an entire country and region.
A legacy of service:
Dr Monze will be remembered as a clinician, teacher, administrator and public servant who accepted progressively greater responsibility whenever duty called — from restoring sight and managing a referral hospital, to directing provincial health services and coordinating the development of Southern Province.
His career was defined by service to others.
His passing leaves a significant gap in the medical profession, the ophthalmology community and Zambia's public service. Yet the institutions he strengthened, the professionals he mentored, the patients he treated and the communities he served will remain part of his enduring legacy.
The Zambia Ophthalmological Society extends its heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and colleagues, to the Government of the Republic of Zambia, and to the people of Southern Province. May his family find strength and comfort.
