Mwale elected new African Telecommunications Union SG

by ARNOLD MULENGA
LUSAKA, (CAJ News) – ZAMBIAN Kezias Kazuba Mwale has been elected the next Secretary-General of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU).

He will assume office on 1 January 2027, succeeding John Omo.

Mwale’s initial term will run until 2031.

“ATU congratulates the Secretary General-elect and thanks all candidates and nominating member states for their participation in the Union’s electoral process,” ATU stated following the election in Abuja, Nigeria, on Friday evening.

Until the handover, Omo will continue to lead the General Secretariat.

“The Union remains grateful for Mr Omo’s service and looks forward to a smooth transition that protects institutional continuity and carries forward ATU’s mandate to advance telecommunications and digital development in Africa,” ATU stated.

Mwale defeated pre-election favourite South African Cynthia Lesufi, Faysal Bayouli of Tunisia and Ottou Valéry Hilaire of Cameroon.

Lesufi had been widely regarded as the favourite, but her prospects appeared to take a nosedive on the eve of the election amid the western bloc of the continent intensifying its campaign against South Africa over ongoing xenophobic sentiment and Afrophobia in the Southern African country.

An analyst had told CAJ News Africa in the run-up to the poll that this would dent Lesufi’s chances.

Zambia’s ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) hailed Mwale’s election as the attainment of a major continental leadership position.

Originally established in 1977, the ATU is the specialised agency of the African Union (AU) responsible for fostering information and communication technology infrastructure, policy harmonisation and universal access across the continent.

– CAJ News