Comesa elects Kapwepwe as first woman sec-gen
African Heads of State and Government take a photo during the Comesa summit in Lusaka, Zambia, on July 18, 2018. Ms Chileshe Kapwepwe has been appointed as the new secretary-general. PHOTO | NATION MEDAI GROUP
What you need to know:
- Ms Kapwepwe was serving as chairperson of the Zambia Revenue Authority.
LUSAKA
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) has elected Chileshe Kapwepwe as its first woman secretary-general.
Ms Kapwepwe, 59, a former alternate director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), replaces Mr Sindiso Ngwenya, who has worked at the regional body for 34 years in various capacities.
The Zambian was appointed by the Secretariat on Wednesday during the Comesa Heads of State and Government summit at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka, Zambia.
CONGRATS
At the time of her appointment, Ms Kapwepwe was serving as chairperson of the Zambia Revenue Authority. She also served as deputy Finance minister.
Zambia President Edgar Lungu congratulated her.
"Ms Kapwepwe is taking up leadership responsibility with Comesa at the time when the regional body has made tremendous strides towards market integration and harmonisation of programmes," President Lungu's statement read.
TECHNOLOGY
Comesa is the largest regional economic organisation in Africa in terms of membership after the recent admission of Tunisia and Somalia.
It will end its 20th summit - themed 'Comesa: Towards Digital Economic Integration' - tomorrow.
The forum purposes to rally member states towards full adoption of digital technologies.
