George Chellah | |
---|---|
[[File:George_Chellah_April_30,_2014.jpg |frameless|upright=1]] | |
Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations | |
Assumed office September 28, 2011 | |
President | Michael Chilufya Sata |
Preceded by | Dickson Jere |
Personal details | |
Born | George Chellah May 6, 1981 Kitwe, Zambia |
Political party | [Front (Zambia)] |
Profession | Journalist |
Website | [1] |
George Chellah
George Chellah (born May 6, 1981) is the Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, the official title of the State House spokesperson, or press aide to the President of the Republic of Zambia. Prior to his appointment as State House spokesperson in 20111, Chellah was Assistant News Editor at The Post, Zambia’s leading daily tabloid. He also served as a member of the Press Freedom Committee, a non-profit making advocacy for media rights and freedoms founded by The Post Newspapers.
Journalism career
After his Diploma in Journalism, Public Relations and Advertising graduation from Sir Evelyn Hone College of Applied Arts and Commerce, Lusaka, George Chellah joined Zambia’s leading daily, The Post, as a reporter in September 2004. Working for a private and independent newspaper provides professional challenges as well as motivation.
By 2007, Chellah had learned the ropes and climbed the ladder, landing himself on the News, Politics and Economics desk as a Senior Reporter. He worked at the newspaper’s head office in Lusaka and was later dispatched to operate at their Harare (Zimbabwe) Bureau. Two years later, Chellah was appointed Assistant News Editor at the head office in Lusaka, the position he held until his move into the civil service when he was appointed State House spokesperson.
As a journalist, Chellah espouses media rights and freedoms. This is reflected by his service on the Press Freedom Committee of The Post Newspapers from 2004 to 2011.
From 2007 to 2009, he also served as a volunteer of the Institute for African Integration, a non-profit independent policy think-tank that focuses on Africa’s economic, social and political integration and that of the continent in an international setting.
Work in Michael Sata administration
On September 28, 2011, George Chellah left the private sector to join the public service when he was called upon the President-elect Michael Chilufya Sata to serve as Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations.
Chellah is the youngest Presidential press aide in Zambia’s history. Backed by his professional background, he has ably handled his call, representing the President to the media and the general public.
Personal life and education
Chellah was raised in the Copperbelt mining city of Kitwe where he attended Mukuba Secondary School, completing his Grade 12 in 1999. A graduate with a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in Communication Studies, Chellah also attended Sir Evelyn Hone College of Applied Arts and Commerce, Lusaka, for his Diploma in Journalism, Public Relations and Advertising (2001-2003).
He and his family live in Lusaka.