EX-OSISA chief appointed info PS

Dr Phiri is a well-known media trainer in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, who for many years served with the now defunct Nordic-SADC Journalism Centre then housed in Maputo, Mozambique.

His appointment has been hailed by media practitioners and other stakeholders in the country, including the Zambian chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) which has been trying to mediate the wrangle with government, which seems bent on statutory regulation of the media.  Given his background, Dr Phiri, who launched his journalism career as a cub sports reporter at the Times of Zambia before graduating from the newly established School of Journalism at the University of Zambia in the 80s, is expected to help resolve the haggling between media practitioners and the government.