Yeshey Zimba

Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba (Template:Langx, Wylie: ye-shes sbyin-pa, 10 October 1950 – 9 September 2024) was a political figure from Bhutan. He was Prime Minister (Chairman of the Council of Ministers) of Bhutan two times: first from 2000 to 2001; then from 20 August 2004 to 5 September 2005. During this period, each minister took turns holding the chairmanship for one year.

Early life

He completed his high school in North Point School and got his bachelor's degree from St. Joseph's College, Darjeeling, an affiliate of the University of North Bengal. Yeshey later graduated with an MA in economics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1976.

Career

He was the managing director of Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan from 1983 to 1986, and the chairman from 1998 to 2002. He was Minister of Finance from August 1998 to July 2003.

Zimba served as Minister of Trade and Industry until resigning in mid-2007 to participate in the March 2008 general election. Following the election, he became Minister of Works and Human Settlement on 11 April 2008. He served in this position until 2013, and then from 2013 to 2018 was a Member of Parliament in the Parliament of Bhutan. His specific constituency that he served in was South Thimphu Constituency. He was also chairman of the board called the Empowered Group that set up the Education City project site, which later became the Bhutan Education City Board after the passing of the Education City Bill.

Personal life

Zimba was a devout Buddhist, visiting numerous religious sites in Bhutan. He was married to Thuji Zam, who owned an apple orchard land near the Education City site in Selekha. Zimba died on the morning of 9 September 2024 after a period of time with an illness.