By Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba
New PRO in Government, an Attempt to Bridge the Gap in Information Dissemination
I’ve seen a report that states that Government has appointed Principle Public Relations Officers in Ministries, Provinces and other Spending Agencies.
I guess this is one of the key recommendations from the Kenyan Gina Din Corporate Communications firm to the state communication team grappling with delivering effective communication.
I have always advocated for a decentralised and devolved communication infrastructure that overcomes the burdens and inefficiencies of the Ministry of Information.
That Ministry is a dated and legacy of centralised communication strategies of communist governments.
There have been attempts to modernise the Ministry of Information by various new democratic governments to adapt it to be a crucial government department responsible for disseminating information about government policies, schemes, and programs to the public through various media channels like radio, television, print media, and social media.
Let me NOT digress.
The appointment of these officers will be effective if they will be given room to operate and will be allowed to sit in crucial senior management meetings.
This helps in building background and institutional memory.
Trouble is that executives such as CEOs, Ministers and Permanent Secretaries treat information or Public Relations Officers as their Chola boys/girls or protocal officers.
Further there is a tendency to hide information or exclude information officers and PRO from the management of the organisations and key meetings but only called upon like fire tenders, to quench the raging fires of scandal.
Further, this will only work if there is effective coordination, team work and excellent strategy.
Under the Patriotic Front Government, a new layer of more information officers were added to district councils, and foreign missions.
Otherwise, this initiative will join the ranks of many information outlets and layers of bureaucracy currently failing to communicate and have consequently become moribund.
Above all, the top must be committed to tell the truth and further deliver public service and projects for these teams to shine.
Below is the story.
GOVERNMENT APPOINTS PRINCIPAL PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICERS
The Government of the Republic of Zambia has with immediate effect appointed Principal Public Relations Officers in all the 25 Ministries and 10 Provincial Headquarters.
This is in a bid to improve government communication on many projects and initiatives that the UPND administration is doing.
The appointed qualified Journalists and Public Relations practitioners have been drawn from all the 10 Provinces of Zambia.
The following are the appointed officers:
*MINISTERIAL PPROs*
1. Kalani Muchima – Ministry of Information and Media
2. Ilitongo Maboshe – Ministry of Science and Technology
3. Shamwinda Tembo – Ministry of Mines
4. Ernest Chanda – Ministry of Transport and Logistics
5. Liseli Kanyanga – Ministry of Local Government
6. Nchimunya N’gandu – Ministry of Youth and Sports
7. Nelly Banda – Ministry of Tourism
8. Bob Sianjalika – Ministry of Energy
9. Bbalewa Zyuulu – Ministry of Agriculture
10. Virginia Chilongo – Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise
11. Joe Nkadaani – Ministry of Justice
12. Eva Hatontola – Ministry of Foreign Affairs
13. Mwaka Ndawa – Ministry of Labour
14. Francesca Phiri – Ministry of Infrastructure
15. Harriet Chimuka – Ministry of Green Economy
16. Georgia Mutale – Ministry of Health
17. Clive Kalunga – Ministry of Education
18. Ben Munyama – Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries
19. Paul Shalala – Ministry of Defence
20. Delphine Hampande – Ministry of Lands
21. Glenda Nachinga – Ministry of Community Development
22. Everness Nankala – Ministry of Commerce and Trade
23. Prince Chiyuni – Ministry of Water Development
24. Mwala Kalaluka – Ministry of Home Affairs
25. Chileshe Kandeta – Ministry of Finance.
*PROVINCIAL PPROs*
1. Logic Lukwanda – Lusaka Province
2. Tobias Phiri – Eastern Province
3. Alfereeson Sinalungu – Central Province
4. Marilyn Rose – Copperbelt Province
5. Mwakoi Njekwa – Western Province
6. Sandra Mulenga – Northern Province
7. Wisdom Himanteka – Southern Province
8. Gloria Kinkolenge – North Western Province
9. Ruth Mumba – Muchinga Province
10. Emmanuel Maseko – Luapula Province
Is E. Mwamba now writing on behalf of the government?
It beats me to see how much information he has before we hear it from tho the horse’s mouth The ministry of information.
So much enthusiasm maybe he wants a job in UPND run government after ECL MHSRIP.
He doesnt know his place and when Kaunda spoke of Kachepa. This what Mwamba thinks his role is.
From wanting to be a “Fred Mmembe” in leaking information. To speak for Government. To me when he writes such articles. He just prove that UPND is a listening Government. Getting insight from someone who is “independent” helps one to see objectively what the issue might be. And address the issue in an objective manner. So by listing their names. What is he trying to prove? That certain people from certain provinces were employed?
OP needs to figure out who is giving him this information as it infringes of the privacy of the employees. I doubt he got their consent?
As for Mwamba’s handlers. You sent him into the Diplomatic service because he was a “pain in the wrong place”. He like Nakachinda; I doubt if they will help unify the Party. Like ichpute they show up and say things that you dont ask them to do.
Appointments have been made by the PSMD, these are just junior officers and there should be no hype about them.
But the news was already in public domain before Mr. Mwamba even wrote about. Maybe you should fact checking before headlesly attacking someone
If he could dwell on PF the party may have some life.He has failed to organize the PF if any thing he is one person who has destroyed PF.He likes mupando and good living.Ku organization no bwinobwino.Muntu wa Shani kanshi uyu.? He wants to enjoy high positions but organization skills below par.Mwamba has a strange character.
Ba Mwamba tell us more. Are these Civil Service appointments (which will continue regardless of which party is in power) or political appointments ( linked to a Party or will cease with party?).
Yes it is frightening how Emmanuel Mwamba gets information. There are still mercenaries who give out data for a fee. I think when he makes a statement as regards to a certain ministry the staff should be checked. People are being paid to spy I think.
The biggest problem that ECL brought upon himself was to bring Mwamba and Nakachinda as his spokespersons, now because of their egos, what these two stooges do each time they speak is not to uplift ECL but themselves by using ECL’s name, unfortunately ECL does not see that these guys are out there for themselves and not him, hence they lead him into temptation while their names are publicized each and every day. ECL needs real advisors and spokespersons who will build him and not themselves. Manje bu Dalo