Youths Take Charge of OSF Leadership, Chikombola Replaces Sunday Chanda

By Winston Muleba II 

Zambia Open Society Foundation, a civil society organization anchored on Centre–left policies and advocate for bridging the gap between the rich and the poor through championing of human and civil rights, social and economic justice, held the annual general meeting on Friday where free and fair elections following the resignation of the Founder and Executive Director, Sunday Chanda were conducted. Mr. Chanda resigned from the civil society to join The Patriotic Front in 2014. 

In a quest to restructure the foundation, a new executive was chosen through consensus and vote, subsequently Obbious Chikombola who was acting as Executive Director since the resignation of Mr. Chanda was duly elected as new Executive Director. 

Among other vibrant young leaders and members of the newly elected Open Society Foundation (OSF) executive include, Mr. Levy Sakala as Deputy Executive Director; Mr. Deogracious Kalumba as Secretary General; Kasala Lungu as Head Finance and Ms. Niza Phiri as Programs Director. Ms. Phiri is the first female Programs Director of OSF since its inception in Zambia. 

The new Executive Director, Mr. Chikombola in an interview with WM Media Pty. Ltd said he succeeded a man whose shoes are big to fit. 

“He spent his three years in civil society, fighting for a great cause, he spoke for the youths, the unemployed, and he spoke for all of us and provided policy direction to the government.” he said. 

He said Mr. Chanda remains a great friend to OSF and the nation. 

“In our hearts of hearts we eulogies him for everything he has done needless to say we are ready to debate with him especially when we disagree for objectivity is what he taught us .We are not for sale to the highest bidder and we shall never compromise our principles, morals and our beliefs for silver and gold. We are traversing the nation and preach equity and engagement.” said Mr. Chikombola. 

Mr. Chikombola said the youths and the nation should be ready for them for they shall knock on the doors of perfect strangers and give their hands to the underprivileged, the downtrodden and the week of the society. 

“We shall remain an impartial watchdog of the society and not of individuals.” he said. 

The former Executive Director, Mr. Sunday Chanda, a man who has so much confidence in young people has eventually entrusted power to a youthful executive to take OSF to its greater heights. 

Mr Chanda has since congratulated his colleagues, the new OSF executive.