INTERESTING READ
From Moscow’s mortuary to Zambia’s cabinet: The extraordinary life of Dr. Joseph Katema.
What was expected to be his final chapter in 1986 instead became one of the most extraordinary accounts of survival among his contemporaries.
While pursuing his studies in Moscow, Dr. Katema was mistakenly pronounced dead and placed in a mortuary refrigerator.
In an unforeseen development, he regained consciousness and was discovered alive, reportedly exclaiming, “Mfumyeni muno!” (“Take me out of here!”).
The incident remained a defining episode in his life, widely remembered for its shock and its enduring illustration of his resilience.
His longtime friend and former roommate, Dr. Teddy Andrew Mulenga, who studied alongside him in the Soviet Union recalled that they shared a room for seven years first in Kiev at Kiev State University and later in Simferopol, the capital of Crimea.
The incident from 1986 has since become legendary. Below is the story as shared by Dr Mulenga on his Facebook page.
Joseph had just returned from a visit to the United Kingdom, where he had spent time with his elder brother, who was then specializing in gynaecology. Dressed in brand-new jeans and sneakers, he arrived in Moscow in high spirits.
There, he met a Sudanese student in a park. The two bought two bottles of vodka and began drinking together. The Sudanese student, being much bigger in stature, handled the alcohol far better. Joseph, however, collapsed unconscious in the snow. His companion fled, leaving him behind.
Russian thieves reportedly found him, stripped him of his new clothes and disappeared.
A passing elderly Russian woman noticed his motionless body and alerted emergency services. Paramedics arrived, examined him and, unable to detect a heartbeat, concluded that he had died.
He was transported to the mortuary and placed inside a large refrigerated chamber.
The only clue to his identity was a pair of underpants bearing the Zambian flag. Mortuary staff contacted the Zambian Embassy, prompting the Education Attaché, Mr. Musumali, to rush to identify the body.
As the mortuary attendants opened the cold chamber, the “dead man” suddenly came back to life.
Looking at the startled faces around him, Joseph shouted in Bemba:
“Mfumyeni muno!” — “Take me out of here!”
He had survived what should have been an unimaginable ordeal.
Reflecting on the episode years later, Dr. Mulenga simply concluded:
“Joseph had refused to die.”
It is a story that became part of his legend a reminder of his extraordinary resilience, his enduring spirit, and the unforgettable memories he left with those who knew him.
Following this event, Dr. Katema proceeded to build a distinguished life of service and professional accomplishment.
Long before entering politics, Dr. Katema had built a reputation as a dedicated medical doctor.
Following his return to Zambia from the Soviet Union, Dr Katema served in several towns across Zambia’s Copperbelt Province, including Chingola and Mufulira, where he touched countless lives through his work in medicine.
Born on 20 November 1961, Dr. Katema was first elected Member of Parliament for Chingola Central in the 2006 general elections on the Patriotic Front (PF) ticket.
He secured 12,550 votes, comfortably defeating the MMD’s Jerry Mukonkela, who polled 7,382 votes.
Five years later, in the 2011 general elections, he successfully defended his seat, increasing his margin of victory after polling 17,731 votes against the MMD’s Kazenene Sevirine, who received 7,289 votes.
Following the Patriotic Front’s victory in September 2011, President Michael Sata appointed Dr. Katema as Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health.
He served in that portfolio until March 2014, when he was reassigned as Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services.
After President Edgar Lungu won the 2015 presidential by-election, Dr. Katema was appointed Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs, a position he held until the 2016 general elections.
In 2016, he chose not to seek another term as Member of Parliament for Chingola. President Lungu subsequently appointed him Zambia’s Ambassador to Italy, where he represented the country until 2021.
Each stage of his service reflected a sustained commitment to national development and leadership.
Four decades after his survival in Moscow, his life came to its conclusion.
On 2 August 2026, Dr. Katema passed away in India, where he had travelled to receive specialized medical treatment. The man who had once survived a declaration of death in a Moscow mortuary ultimately succumbed to natural causes.
His life marked by an unusual beginning, a distinguished record in medicine and public service, and a final passage abroad leaves a legacy defined by resilience, dedication, and lasting remembrance.
May Dr. Katema rest in eternal peace.