Governance & Stewardship

Guided by a diverse Board of Directors comprising leaders in law, finance, and global health policy.

Board Of Directors

Providing strategic oversight and fiduciary governance.

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Sarah Mbewe Banda

Board Chairperson

Key Credential: MBA, FCCA,
FZICA

A seasoned governance leader with over 26 years of executive experience, Sarah serves on the CHZ Board. Holding an MBA and Fellowships with both ACCA and ZICA, she combines fiduciary rigor with operational agility, ensuring CHZ maintains the highest standards of accountability.

A seasoned governance leader and financial strategist, Sarah brings over 26 years of executive experience to the CHZ Board. Holding an MBA and Fellowships with both ACCA and ZICA, she combines fiduciary rigor with operational agility. Currently the Managing Director of Sarai Properties, she previously served as Deputy Chief of Party for the USAID CHAMP project, managing complex multi-donor funding streams. Her expertise lies in organizational strategic planning, financial systems strengthening, and grant management, ensuring CHZ maintains the highest standards of accountability as a prime contractor.

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McDonald Chilepa

Board Treasurer

Key Credential: Lawyer (LLB) & Chartered Accountant (FCCA)

McDonald offers a rare dual-competency in Law and Finance. As a Fellow of the ACCA (FCCA) and a qualified Lawyer (LLB), he serves as the ultimate custodian of CHZ’s compliance, ensuring internal controls and governance meet the stringent requirements of international partners.

McDonald offers a rare and critical dual-competency in Law and Finance. As a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) and a qualified Lawyer (LLB), he serves as the ultimate custodian of CHZ’s compliance and fiscal integrity. His career spans key roles in banking, corporate services, and non-profit financial management, including tenure as Finance Manager for ZCCP. McDonald’s oversight ensures that CHZ’s internal controls, audit readiness, and corporate governance meet the stringent requirements of international funding partners.

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Dr. Mukachilima Chikuba-McLeod

Board Member

Key Credential: President & CEO, JSI Research & Training Institute

A globally recognized public health executive, Dr. Chikuba-McLeod serves as the President and CEO of JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. She directs national-scale portfolios exceeding $200 million, providing CHZ with world-class technical mentorship and a direct bridge to global best practices.

A globally recognized public health executive, Dr. Chikuba-McLeod serves as the President and CEO of JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (Boston). With over 35 years of experience, she has directed national-scale portfolios exceeding $200 million, including the USAID DISCOVER-Health and USAID SAFE projects. Her presence on the board provides CHZ with world-class technical mentorship and a direct bridge to global best practices in health systems strengthening, ensuring our programs deliver measurable, scalable impact.

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Mr. George Mpundu Kanja

Board Member

Key Credential: Legal Practitioner & Commercial Law Specialist

George is a distinguished legal practitioner and Partner at George & Bwalya Advocates. With deep expertise in Commercial Law and Intellectual Property, he has served on high-profile boards like ZESCO and PACRA, providing CHZ with high-level legal counsel on regulatory compliance.

George is a distinguished legal practitioner and academic with deep expertise in Commercial Law and Intellectual Property. A Partner at George & Bwalya Advocates and a PhD candidate, he has served on high-profile boards including ZESCO and the Patents and Companies Registry Agency (PACRA). His governance experience spans state-owned enterprises and statutory bodies, providing CHZ with high-level legal counsel on regulatory compliance, risk management, and corporate structuring essential for a sovereign national entity.

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Ms. Louise Henderson

Board Member

Key Credential: Finance & Compliance Specialist

Louise has developed specialized expertise in institutional capacity building, systems management, and human resource development. She has been instrumental in building the capacity of local partner organizations who have subsequently become prime partner recipients of USG/donor funding.

Louise has developed specialized expertise in institutional capacity building, systems management, and human resource development. She has been instrumental in building the capacity of local partner organizations who have subsequently become prime partner recipients of USG/donor funding. In addition, she has successfully trained local staff in grants management and administration, particularly with regard to USG regulations, mentoring staff who have taken up senior leadership finance and operations roles in other projects.

Louise has significant and successful experience in overseeing and managing diverse aspects of programme management, including work planning, finance, accounting, and operations. She has an in-depth working knowledge of donor financial procedures, policies, and compliance requirements, and has supported projects to design and implement strong financial, accounting, and programme management systems. She also brings valuable private sector experience, having advised and led management and finance functions in both Zambia and the UK.

Louise is a Chartered Accountant, a member of both ICAS (UK) and ZICA (Zambia), with over 25 years of specialised experience in the NGO space. As a Board member, she champions robust financial governance, project management, organisational systems strengthening, and operational frameworks, ensuring CHZ’s eligibility and readiness for direct donor funding.

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Professor Lloyd Mulenga

Board Member

Key Credential: Director of Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Health

Professor Mulenga is Zambia’s leading authority on infectious diseases and HIV policy. As the Director of Infectious Diseases at the Ministry of Health, he ensures CHZ’s strategic direction is technically sound, evidence-based, and perfectly aligned with the national agenda for epidemic control.

Professor Mulenga is Zambia’s leading authority on infectious diseases and HIV policy. As the Director of Infectious Diseases at the Ministry of Health and a key figure at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), he bridges the gap between clinical research and national policy implementation. His involvement ensures that CHZ’s strategic direction is technically sound, evidence-based, and perfectly aligned with the Ministry of Health’s national agenda for epidemic control and health security.

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Dr. Mutinta Masinge Nyumbu

Trustee

Dr. Nyumbu is a pediatric consultant and public health executive with over 30 years of experience. As a former Project Director managing a 500-staff national health portfolio, she bridges clinical expertise with high-level strategic governance to safeguard CHZ’s mission and sustainability.

Dr. Mutinta Nyumbu is a Consultant Pediatrician and public health veteran with over 30 years of leadership experience in infectious disease prevention, capacity building, and health systems strengthening. Most recently, she served as Project Director for a major integrated health program, where she provided strategic direction to over 500 staff and managed complex relationships with international funders and the Ministry of Health.

Her career spans critical roles including Deputy Chief of Party for national leadership development initiatives, where she championed health advocacy among traditional and religious leaders. With a background as a Consultant Pediatrician at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and a Fellowship in Pediatric Cardiology from Great Ormond Street Hospital (UK), Dr. Nyumbu combines deep clinical knowledge with vast programmatic expertise. As a CHZ Trustee, she ensures that community impact, compliance, and clinical excellence remain at the core of the organization’s growth.

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Ms. Mika Mwambazi Bwembya

Trustee

Ms. Bwembya is a Public Health Specialist and pharmacist with advanced expertise in supply chain management. Holding an MPH from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, she brings critical insight into health commodity security to ensure robust logistical frameworks for national mandates.

Ms. Bwembya is a Public Health Specialist and pharmacist with advanced expertise in supply chain management and project logistics. Holding an MPH from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, she brings critical insight into health commodity security. Her oversight ensures that CHZ’s logistical and operational frameworks are robust enough to handle complex national supply chain mandates.

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Nylepitha B. Chirambo Musonda

CEO

Key Expertise : Organisation Management , Strategic planning , Team Building and Adaptability, Stakeholder Mgt, Governance & Compliance, Financial decision making and problem solving,
 

A founding member of CHZ, Nylepitha brings over 20 years of executive experience managing large-scale portfolios for international NGOs. As CEO, she provides strategic oversight for the organization’s transition, specializing in complex business operations, compliance, and sustainable project governance.

A founding member of CHZ, Nylepitha brings over 20 years of executive experience managing large-scale portfolios for various international NGOs. Having held various leadership positions, she has amassed extensive expertise in project management, organizational development, change management, operations, finance, and subgranting. As CEO, she provides strategic oversight for the organization’s transition, specializing in complex business operations, compliance, risk management, donor relations, and sustainable project governance.
 
Main Bio
Nylepitha Chirambo Musonda is a founding member of CHZ and a seasoned executive leader with over two decades of experience driving operational excellence within the international development sector. She specializes in the complex business operations and financial architecture of donor-funded public health programs, having managed large-scale portfolios for major international non-governmental organizations.
 
As Chief Executive Officer at Coalition Health Zambia, Nylepitha provides strategic oversight for the organization’s transition and sustainability. Her expertise is defined by her mastery of the business strategy lifecycle. Throughout her career, which includes tenure as a Deputy Chief of Party (Finance and Operations) and Operations Director for major health programs, she has demonstrated a unique ability to bridge technical public health goals with robust operational stewardship. Nylepitha holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and is currently pursuing an MSc in Strategic Planning from Heriot-Watt University (UK). Her extensive background in finance and operations has continued to evolve throughout her distinguished career.
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Dr. Maureen Simwenda -Samaratunga
Chief Technical Director

Key Credential: MBChB, MMed, MBA, MPH

Dr. Simwenda-Samaratunga is a Public Health Specialist and Pediatrician with over 15 years of executive leadership. As Chief Technical Director, she oversees CHZ’s clinical strategy, bringing deep experience in managing complex health programs across diverse funding streams and international donors.

Dr. Simwenda-Samaratunga is a Public Health Specialist and Pediatrician with over 15 years of executive experience in the health sector. As Chief Technical Director, she oversees CHZ’s clinical strategy and alignment with Ministry of Health priorities.

She brings extensive leadership experience in managing large-scale health projects, having led technical teams through various funding opportunities beyond USG projects. A former Chief of Party for major national health initiatives, she specializes in ensuring rigorous technical quality and compliance across multi-donor environments. She holds an MPH, MBA, and Master of Medicine in Pediatrics from the University of Zambia.

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Mr. Sepiso Libamba
Organizational Finance & Operations Manager

Key Credential: CA (Z), FZICA, MBA

A Chartered Accountant with 15 years of experience, Sepiso leads CHZ’s finance & operations. He specializes in designing internal control frameworks for multi-donor funded projects, ensuring strict compliance and transparent stewardship of international funds.

Sepiso Libamba is a Chartered Accountant with over 15 years of experience in NGO financial management. As CHZ’s Finance & Operations lead, he established the corporate finance unit and oversees strict compliance with international accounting standards and donor regulations.

Previously, he served as a Finance Manager for large-scale health implementation projects and Acting Director of Finance for a leading regional NGO. He specializes in audit readiness and financial systems strengthening for complex funding streams. He is a fully qualified ZICA member pursuing an MBA in Finance.

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Dr. Atanasius Hamwaka

Business Development Manager

Key Credential: PhD, MCD, BA

Dr. Atanasius Hamwaka is a seasoned development professional with over 18 years of
progressive experience in programme management, strategy, resource mobilization, and
health systems strengthening in Zambia. He leads organizational growth, strategic
partnerships, and resource mobilization across a diverse portfolio of health and development
programmes.

Dr. Atanasius Hamwaka is a seasoned development professional with over 18 years of
progressive experience in programme management, strategy, resource mobilization, and
health systems strengthening in Zambia. He leads organizational growth, strategic
partnerships, and resource mobilization across a diverse portfolio of health and development
programmes.
Dr. Hamwaka provides strategic leadership in funding diversification, proposal development,
donor engagement, and partnership building with bilateral and multilateral donors,
philanthropic foundations, government institutions, universities, and research organizations.
He also brings extensive experience as a Programme Manager in both international and local
organisations, where he supported the design, implementation, coordination, monitoring, and
reporting of large-scale donor-funded programmes in close collaboration with government
and implementing partners. He plays a central role in shaping bankable, evidence-driven
programmes that respond to priority gaps in Zambia’s health system, while strengthening
CHZ’s positioning and long-term sustainability.
Dr. Hamwaka holds a PhD in Management, a Master’s Degree in Communication for
Development, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts. Across his career, he is recognised for his
ability to bridge strategy and implementation, translate evidence into fundable programmes,
and build high-impact partnerships that deliver measurable results at scale.

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Dr. Godfrey Mutaawe

Technical Advisor

Key Credential:MD, MPH

A Medical Doctor and Public Health Specialist with over sixteen years of experience in HIV/AIDS and nutrition programming. Godfrey leads diverse technical teams to deliver resilient, high-impact health systems across Zambia.

Dr. Godfrey Mutaawe serves as a Technical Specialist in Health & Nutrition, where he provides strategic leadership for country-level planning and implementation. With a dual background as a Medical Doctor and Public Health Specialist, he specializes in translating complex health strategies into actionable programs for maternal, newborn, and child health. His expertise lies in guiding diverse technical teams to deliver comprehensive HIV/AIDS and nutrition interventions that align strictly with national priorities.

Bringing over sixteen years of experience, Godfrey holds a Master of Public Health (Epidemiology & Biostatistics) and a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from Makerere University. His career spans critical leadership roles, including Provincial Manager for USAID Action HIV and Clinical Director for USAID SAFE, where he successfully scaled up viral load coverage and cervical cancer screening. A seasoned technical advisor, he has played a pivotal role in developing national guidelines and has mobilized significant resources to support outbreak responses and health system strengthening.

Godfrey is dedicated to building sustainable health infrastructure through mentorship and evidence-based practice. He champions the integration of HIV/SRHR services and innovative care models, ensuring that public health interventions not only meet targets but permanently improve the quality of life for underserved communities.

Strategic Leadership for a Resilient Zambia.

Our Board and Executive team are committed to the highest standards of fiduciary responsibility and technical excellenc

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