Ms. Lilian Chigona – Executive Director
The Executive Director of Panos Institute Southern Africa (PSAf) is Ms. Lilian Chigona.
Lilian holds Master of Arts Degree in Development Studies with the University of the Free State, Bachelor of Arts Degree in Humanities from the University of Malawi, and a Certificate in Investigating, Monitoring and Reporting Human Rights Violations, and in Introduction to Human Rights, from the University of Oxford and Fahamu. She has also attended a number of trainings in project management
As the head of management at the PSAf secretariat, Lilian is responsible for the overall management and strategic direction of the organisation. She leads a team of professionals in the development and implementation of programmes that are aimed at achieving the organisation’s goal of empowering communities across Southern Africa to drive their own development. Top on this agenda is the development and implementation of the organisation’s current Strategic Plan (2012 to 2016).
Lilian also serves as the link between PSAf staff and board members, and the organisation’s partners, donors, stakeholders and other Panos Institutes, to ensure that the organisation maintains a strong profile among all its stakeholders.
Since 2006, Lilian has served PSAf in various capacities having joined the organisation as a Senior Programme Officer for the HIV/AIDS programme. She rose through the ranks to become the regional manager for the HIV/AIDS and Health Programmes, a position she held until her appointment as Executive Director.
Before joining PSAf, Lilian worked as a Gender and HIV and AIDS Programme Coordinator for Concern Universal Malawi and as a Programme Manager for Youth Net and Counselling. She also undertook consultancies as a social researcher for the Centre for Social Research at the University of Malawi. Lilian has experience working directly with marginalized communities including commercial sex workers, teenage mothers, and people living with HIV and AIDS and many other marginalised groups. Email: lilian@panos.org.zm
Mr. Pryd Chitah -- Programmes Adviser/ Monitoring and Evaluation Manager
Pryd works as PSAf’s Programmes Advisor and coordinates monitoring and evaluation mechanisms across projects and programmes. He also provides strategic as well as technical backstopping support to programmes and projects. In addition, he is a focal point for project fundraising within PSAf.
Pryd holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the Copperbelt University. He also holds a Certificate in Public-Private Partnership Skills and Competency Development and another one in Advanced Project Finance and Financial Modelling Techniques from IP3 in the USA. He is a certified ILO-EYB trainer in Strategic Management and Financial Management. He is also currently reading for the Certified PPP Specialist Programme under IP3 and the University of Loughborough.
Prior to joining PSAf, Pryd worked for Chemonics on the Zambia Threshold Project as Monitoring and Evaluation Manager. He has also previously worked as a Strategic Management Advisor for the Netherlands Development Organisation, as a PSD Consultant for the World Bank (RPED) covering assignments in Lesotho, Zambia and South Africa, as a Senior Inspector for the Zambia Revenue Authority, and as an Economist for the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, and Industry. Pryd also has wide-ranging experience in entrepreneurship training and organizational development. Email: pryd@panos.org.zm
Mr. Tomas Vieira Mario – National Coordinator for Mozambique
Tomas is the National Coordinator for PSAf in Mozambique, where he directs strategic initiatives and interfaces with partners and donors to promote PSAf’s vision. He is a specialist in media and democracy, a jurist, and a journalist whose career has spanned more than 30 years. His professional career has included the following stages: Correspondent of the Mozambique News Agency (AIM) in Portugal (1986-1993); Director of Information of Mozambique Television (1993-1997); National Coordinator of the Project “Strengthening Democracy and Governance through Developing the Media in Mozambique” ((UNESCO/UNPD) 1998-2006); and Executive Editor of the Mozambique National Human Development Report(SARDC/UNDP).
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree (2004) and a Master’s Degree (2006-2007) in Legal Studies from Eduardo Mondlane University in Maputo and the University of Lisbon. He currently teaches Communication Law and Ethics at the Polytechnic University of Mozambique. Email: tomas.mario@tvcabo.co.mz
Mr. Vusumuzi Sifile – Senior Programme Officer for Environment and Natural Resource Management
Vusumuzi works as the Senior Programmes Officer for PSAf’s Environment and Natural Resource Management Regional Programme. Before joining Panos, he worked as a Senior Staff Writer for The Standard, Zimbabwe’s only independent Sunday newspaper. He was also a correspondent for the Inter Press Service (IPS) News Agency and the UN Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN). In addition, he worked as a reporter for Parade magazine and as a Communications Assistant for the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) Southern Africa with a brief stint in Botswana as an Associate Editor for The Mirror newspaper.
Vusumuzi holds a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Journalism and Media Studies from the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. He also holds a number of Certificates, including: Multimedia and Online Journalism, Political Reporting, Environmental Journalism, Reporting Population and Rural Development, and Reporting on Agriculture and Natural Resources, among others. Email: vusa@panos.org.zm
Ms. Felistus Chipako -- Programme Officer for Governance and Development and Vulnerable Groups Programmes
Felistus joined PSAf in December 2008 as the Programme Officer for the Governance and Development and Vulnerable Groups Programmes, providing support for both. Her main concentration in the Governance and Development Programme is implementing activities under the HIVOS-funded Governance and Transparency through Radio project by working with radio stations, communities, and policy makers.
Felistus holds a Diploma in Journalism, Public Relations, and Advertising from Evelyn Hone College. She also possesses, among other notable professional qualifications, Certificates in Electronic Newsgathering, HIV and AIDS Editorials and Reporting, Radio Technique Production, Television Production, News Presenting (Radio and Television), Programme Presenting (Radio and Television), Current Affairs Production, Southern Africa Community Radio and Education Training, and Digital Technology Radio Programming and Music Editing (Otech Media Technology-South Africa). Email: felistus@panos.org.zm
Mr. Gillies C. Kasongo -- Programme Officer for Media Development and ICTs
Gillies C. Kasongo joined PSAf on a part time basis in January 2006 as a Media Pluralism and ICTs Programme Assistant. Since July 2007, he has worked as Media Development and ICTs Programme Officer responsible for forging strategic links between national, regional, and international research and media institutions and other like minds in Southern Africa. At the heart of this engagement is content development on development issues relating to the SADC region to ensure that the poor and marginalized access development information to enable them to participate fully in governance and development.
Mr. Kasongo holds a Bachelors Degree in Mass Communication (Broadcasting Major) and Psychology (Minor) from the University of Zambia, 2004. He also possesses, among other notable professional qualifications, five distinctive Certificates in: (a) HIV/AIDS Management from Chikankata Mission Hospital (2004, Zambia); (b) ART and Community Mobilization from Catholic Relief Services AIDS Relief (2004, Zambia); (c) Monitoring and Evaluation Basics, MS Excel and Program Indicators from World Vision, RAPIDS, USAID (2005, Zambia); (d) US Government Cash Grant Management (2005, Zambia); and (e) The Role of the Media in a Democratic Process from the Danish government (2007, Copenhagen). Email: gillies@panos.org.zm
Mr. Nervious Siantombo – Programme Officer for Media Content and Development
Nervious joined PSAf in April 2008 as the Programme Officer in the Media and ICTs Development Programme. He is responsible for creating media content and enhancing the media’s capacity to meet the development information needs of the communities they serve. Another key focus is the facilitation of result-oriented development discourse between marginalized rural communities on the one hand, and policy-makers and development agents on the other, through PSAf’s Development Through Radio (DTR) and Radio Listening Club (RLC) programmes.
Before joining Panos, Mr. Siantombo worked for the National Agricultural Information Services for 8 years, as Overseer of radio and television agricultural information extension services.
Mr. Siantombo holds a BA in Mass Communication (Broadcasting Major) and Development Studies (Minor) from the University of Zambia (1999). He also holds a Certificate in Theory and Practice on Public Enlightenment using Multimedia from Okinawa International Centre, Japan (2006), and several other Certificates in media and ICTs. Email: nervious@panos.org.zm
Ms. Catherine Mukange – Organizational Development Assistant
Catherine is PSAf’s Organizational Development Assistant and handles PSAf’s human resources and other administrative functions. She holds a Certificate in Psychosocial Counselling Skills Levels 1 & 2, from the Kara Counselling Centre, and Certificates in Management Course for Materials, and MS Word/Excel, from the Zambia Business Management and Accountancy Training Centre. She also holds Certificates in Human Resource Management Levels 1 & 2, from the University of Zambia, a Certificate in Front Office Management from Career Prospects Limited, and a Certificate in Secretarial Services from Nkumbi International College.
Catherine is currently pursuing a Diploma in Development Management Studies at the National Institute of Public Administration. Email: cathy@panos.org.zm
Ms. Patricia Tepula – Administrative Assistant
Patricia handles reception duties at the regional PSAf office in Lusaka in addition to other administrative functions.
She holds an Advanced Diploma in Business Management from the Association of Business Executives (UK) and a Secretarial Certificate from Zambia Institute of Business Studies and Industrial Practice (ZIBSIP). Email: patricia@panos.org.zm
Mr. Joseph Nyirenda – Studio Manager/Technician: Itezhi-tezhi Community Radio Station
Joseph is a professional journalist who currently works as the Studio Manager/Technician for Itezhi-tezhi Community Radio Station in Zambia’s Southern Province. From 2002 to 2007, he worked as a reporter and a producer of programmes for Radio Icengelo. In 2007 and 2008 he worked on a project at Children in Distress Kitwe under a “Local Voices Project” supported by Action Against Hunger-UK, where he helped to coordinate the collection of testimonies on hunger and HIV and with the subsequent publication of a report called “Local Voices—a Community Perspective on Hunger & HIV in Zambia”. He also developed a communication strategy for Children in Distress Kitwe and was an advisor on media, policy, and community relations to management.
He holds a Diploma in Journalism from Evelyn Hone College and a Certificate from Africa Literature Centre Mindolo. In 2004 and in 2006 he won “The Best Reporting Awards for HIV/AIDS in Zambia” from the United States Embassy in Lusaka. He is particularly interested in development reporting for radio and holds informal lectures on media and governance issues in schools and communities. Email: jozerenda@yahoo.com
Ms. Muntanga Mugoba – Finance and Administration Officer: Itezhi-tezhi Community Radio Station
Muntanga is the Finance and Administration Officer for Itezhi-tezhi Community Radio Station in Zambia’s Southern Province. She is also currently the Vice Secretary for Itezhi-tezhi Youths in Good Governance and Development, a Community Youth Project.
She previously worked as a Direct Sales Agent for Barclay’s Bank in Lusaka. She holds a Diploma in Business Management and Accounts from the National College for Management and Development Studies currently at Mulungushi University in Kabwe. Email: mugobamuntanga@yahoo.com
Masauso Soko – Coordinator of the Zambia Community Media Forum
Mr. Soko holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Communication (Print Major) and Public Administration (Minor) from the University of Zambia (2003). He also holds a Certificate in Community Journalism (2007) Psychosocial Counseling from Chianama Collage of Health Sciences (2005) and several other Certificates.
Masauso joined ZaCoMeF in September 2008 as Assistant Coordinator Media Support Services. As Coordinator, he is responsible for promoting and supporting the interest of Community media sector to insure media sector’s effectiveness and sustainability in serving communities throughout Zambia.
Mr. Richard Salale – Transport Officer
Richard joined PSAf in 2008 and works as PSAf’s Transport Officer. He holds a Craft Certificate in Automotive Mechanics from Lusaka Business and Technical College. Richard coordinates PSAf’s transport logistics including maintenance, and has previously worked for Citibank. Email: richard@panos.org.zm
Mr. Peter Mubamba – Driver
Peter is the Driver for PSAf. He holds a Certificate in MS-DOS, MS Windows 98, MS Word, MS Excel, MS Access and MS PowerPoint.
Mr. Mubamba ensures PSAf staff get where they need to go safely and timely.
Email: peter@panos.org.zm
Mr. Obed Kasanga – Caretaker
Mr. Kasanga is responsible for maintenance and gardening at the regional PSAf office in Lusaka. He ensures that the building and the grounds are kept neat and orderly.
