LUSAKA, July 3 – Sindiso Ngwenya is the new Secretary General of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).
Ngwenya who has been the acting Secretary General (SG) since May this year had previously served as deputy to the outgoing SG Erastus Mwencha.
An extra-ordinary Summit of the COMESA Heads of State and Government that took place at Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on 30 June 2008 also appointed Stephen Karangizi of Uganda as the Assistant Secretary General in charge of Programmes.
Ngwenya becomes the third Secretary General of regional trading bloc since it was transformed from the PTA in 1994. He brings to his post over 27 years of service both in the industry, regional and multilateral levels covering the public and private sectors, as well as quasi-government institutions.
Prior to his appointment Ngwenya was the COMESA Assistant Secretary General ( Programmes) a position he had held since 1998. Preceding this, he acted in the same position for a period of a year. He also held different positions in COMESA and its predecessor the PTA, between 1994 and 1998: namely: the Acting Director – Transport and Communications, Senior Transport Expert for PTA and COMESA
Prior to PTA/COMESA (1980-1983) he worked as the Planning Officer, National Railways of Zimbabwe. He also worked as Corporate Planning Officer, for Ethiopia Airlines, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia between 1979 and 1980
Ngwenya Holds a Master of Science (MSC) in Transportation and Traffic Planning from the University of Birmingham, UK, a BA degree in economics and geography from Middlesex Polytechnic UK , and has Post Graduate Certificates in Airline Corporate Planning , and Railways Administration.
The new Assistant Secretary General ( programmes) Stephen Karangizi, equally brings over 25 years of experience both in Legal and regional integration. He becomes the 2nd Assistant Secretary General (programmes) since the creation of COMESA.
Until his appointment Karangizi was the Director of Legal and Institutional Affairs of COMESA from 1998 to 2008. He was acting in the same position between 1996 and 1998.
Previously he worked as legal Draftsman for the Government of Antigua and Barbuda ( West Indies) from 1990 to 1993, legal advisor to the National Assembly of Uganda from 1988 to 1990; and Senior Legal Officer with Attorney General’s office of the Republic of Zimbabwe from 1983 to 1988. He also worked briefly in private legal practice between 1981 and 1982.
Karangizi holds a Master of Law (LLM) degree from the University of Zimbabwe, and Bachelor of law with honours, LLB (hons) from Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Both appointments have been made for an initial five year term and can be renewed for another five year period.
