American Chamber of Commerce in Zambia

Board Directors

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LOWANI CHIBESAKUNDA – PRESIDENT

Lowani Chibesakunda’s enriching Citi career began 20 years ago. She was most recently appointed as Citi Zambia CEO. Becoming the first Zambian female to be appointed to this role. She has held various leadership positions within Citi Zambia. She has also had the privilege of working in other Citi Present countries such as South Africa, China and the United Kingdom. Lowani holds an MBA from Heriot-Watt University, degree in Financial Services from the University of the West of England Bristol & Certificate in Banking from the Chartered Institute of Bankers – UK. Lowani, prides herself in being a strong advocate of leading by coaching, mentoring and in having strong customer relationship skills.The Chamber delights in having Lowani serve in this capacity.

DR. MOHAMED EL SAHILI – VICE-PRESIDENT

Dr. Mohamed El Sahili is the Chief Executive Officer of the SF Group of companies comprising Medland Health Services Zambia Limited and two Real Estate companies – Celine Real Estate and F&A Real Estate.   Dr. El Sahili served as Fairy Bottling’s CEO until the company was acquired by Coca-Cola Beverages Africa on February 1st 2019.   A Doctor by profession as well as an entrepreneur, he also serves as a:  

  • Board Member to the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC)
  • Chairperson of the Lusaka Water Security Initiative (LuWSI)
  • YPO Member
  • Member at the Africa Business Round table
  • Member at the Africa CEO Forum
  Dr. El Sahili has been awarded as an Africa Food Industry Champion for the Year 2018. He currently presides over the Care and Aim Network for Humanity in Zambia. His commitment towards Women Empowerment, Waste Management and Wellness & Health is phenomenal and constitutes the pillar of his vision.

MAFIPE M. CHUNGA – SECRETARY

Mafipe M. Chunga is an Associate Director at KPMG Zambia overseeing the Advisory Division. He holds undergraduate degrees in Accounting and Law. A Fellow of ZICA and the ACCA, he is a former Corporate & Investment Banker both in Zambia and in the UK. Within the practice, he has a focus on consulting activities that support “Investing in Zambia” and M&A. He has worked with numerous FDI players that include but are not limited to AfDB, Pick n Pay, WBHO, Dangote Cement and Puma Energy. A dynamic presenter he was a headline speaker at the TEDx Lusaka, a recurring guest at numerous Amcham Zambia events and moderator for investment conferences in Lusaka, Budapest Hungary and Hungzhou China organised by the Geneva headquartered International Trade Centre (ITC). He brings to AmCham, a thorough understanding of the local business environment, key experience on how to lobby for policy reforms and a genuine, unapologetic, Zambian perspective on issues. 

YANDE MWENYE – TREASURER

Yande is currently the Managing Partner of Crowe Horwath Welsa Accountants Zambia Limited. (Crowe Zambia) having assumed this role in January 2020. Crowe Zambia is a full service audit firm that is ranked 10th largest audit firm in the world. Her work experience has been spent in one of the top 8 tier audit firms. She currently serves on the board of First National Bank (FNB), is a Commissioner for Oaths in Zambia having been appointed in July 2010 and served as an executive member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in 2014 to 2015, Zambia Network Panel. She has over 21 years’ professional work experience that spans over three continents having worked in Europe in Norway, and the British Channel Islands, Australia and Africa in Zambia. The Chamber is privileged to have Yande on board.

JOSEPH SNAPP – BOARD MEMBER

Joseph Snapp is the Commercial Advisor at the U.S. Embassy in Lusaka. He is responsible for promoting and protecting all U.S. commercial interests, managing U.S. investment opportunities, as well as, following and supporting Zambia’s policy development and needs. He is also involved with the initiatives and partnerships for Power Africa, Prosper Africa, Deal Team, and the Africa Growth & amp; Opportunity Act (AGOA). Mr. Snapp is coming from U.S. Commercial Service in Accra, Ghana, where he was a Commercial Specialist for 4 years. He managed a portfolio of 16 designated sectors: including, Health Care, Education, Consumer Goods, Franchising, Agriculture, Technology/ICT, Intellectual Property, and Security. During his tenure he also organized large-scale trade missions, provided advocacy for U.S. businesses with the Government of Ghana, and protected over $260 million of U.S. Mr. Snapp holds a BSc in Business Marketing from the W.P. Carey School of Business, and a minor in Social & Behavioral Communication from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communication, both from Arizona State University.

ROY MUYELU – BOARD MEMBER

Roy Muyelu is a dynamic and pragmatic leader in FINTECH. Roy is the CEO of Probase limited, Zambia’s leading FINTECH services and solutions provider in the public sector of the economy both locally and internationally. He is also the current Payments Association Zambia (PAYZ) chairperson as well as the sitting United Africa BlockChain Association (UABA).

The Chamber is privileged to have Roy as an addition to the Board in the strategic furtherance of the objectives of the board.

JOHN STEPHANOS SAMARAS – BOARD MEMBER

John is a resourceful and accomplished individual with vast experience in Innovation,trade & commerce, agriculture, legal, entrepreneurship, energy and finance and Technology.

He has founded and established 13 thriving companies among which is Sampay, a fully licensed Online Payment platform by Bank of Zambia developed from JS’s Vision to be the Google of Online Transactions.

The Chamber is delighted to have John as a board member and values his contribution to the sustainability of the vision.

DR JOHN MAPULANGA – BOARD MEMBER

Dr John Mapulanga is a Holder of a PhD Marketing and MBA. With bias towards Business Ethics currently working as a Country Manager for Abbott Rapid Diagnostics.

Dr Mapulanga is a process and solution driven marketing professional with expertise to highlight improvements and efficiency gains, as well as identifying potential setbacks in sales and marketing systems and implementing the corrective action. He has a proven sales track record with a history of turning around business fortunes, advanced demand forecasting skills and persuasive deal closer. With vast experience working for International companies.

CHAMA NKANDU – BOARD MEMBER

Chama Nkandu is the Country Manager at Baker Tilly Chartered Accountants (Zambia) which is a member of Baker Tilly Central Africa, a network member of Baker Tilly International.

She oversees the operations of the company, business growth and strategy implementation.

She is a Member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and Associate Member of the Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA) where she also served as a member of the constitution review committee representing Members in Practice.

Chama has over 7 years’ experience in auditing various companies and organizations in different sectors of the industry. Her position gives her the opportunity to work with clients in different sectors and countries.

She brings to AmCham an understanding of the business environment, growth and networking.

PAUL KAPAPULA – BOARD MEMBER

Paul Kapapula is a visionary leader with innovative and strong Strategic development. He holds an MBA in Management Strategy and Bsc. Agric. Economics Degree from the University of Zambia. The 2019 Southern Africa Bayer LIFE leadership award winner has previously served as Business manager at Bayer Zambia.

He has also served as Head of Sales and Maize Africa Solutions Business development manager for Syngenta Zambia and Africa. Paul is the current Director & Territory Manager for Bayer Zambia Ltd.

He sits as chairperson on CropLife Zambia as well as Association member of Zambia Seed Traders. Paul brings with him to the chamber extensive experience in Strategic, Policy, planning and implementation.

KACHIZA KWENDA – BOARD MEMBER

Kachiza Kwenda is an accomplished Finance and Investments professional with over 15 years of experience in Audit, Financial Analysis, Risk and Compliance, Training and Administration, garnered from institutions such as KPMG, (South Africa & Zambia), Lawrence Sikutwa and Associates, Zanaco Plc and Professional Life Assurance. He was part of the team that spearheaded the successful transition and re-brand from Professional Life Assurance to Prudential Life Zambia.

In his 7-year journey heading Internal audit, Risk and compliance, as Chief Financial Officer and current Chief Executive Officer for Prudential Life Assurance Zambia, he has successfully led the business from 4th in the market to one of the preferred and leading employers and insurance service providers in Zambia, through meticulous planning, implementation, management of projects and structure setup, in the company, including business planning, budgeting, forecasting and negotiations.

Kachiza believes in a growth as you work leadership style, mentoring: providing leadership, direction, management advice and strategic insight, creating an environment that allows people to flourish, through an open-door policy.

YOSA YOSA – BOARD MEMBER

Yosa Yosa is a professional lawyer who holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Zambia and a professional law practicing qualification from Zambia Institute of Advanced Legal Education (ZIALE).

He is a Partner at Musa Dudhia and Co. He worked as a Senior Associate of the same firm from 2016 to 2020 before becoming a Partner. He has also held several positions under Simeza Sangwa & Associates namely; Legal Assistant, Associate and Senior Associate between 2012 and 2016.

Yosa is a member of the Law Association of Zambia. His areas of expertise include: Litigation, Corporate & Commercial, Domestic Relations and Commercial Arbitration.