Ex-Roma girl appointed as Standard Chartered Bank's first Zambian CEO

STANDARD Chartered Bank Zambia Plc has appointed Mizinga Melu as managing director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the bank.
Mrs Melu is the first Zambian to head the bank since its establishment in Zambia in 1906 and takes over from Tom Aaker who has been appointed CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Qatar.
Announcing the appointment of Mrs Melu in a statement, bank chairman, George Sokota said she had worked with the bank for over 10 years and served in many markets including Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, South Africa and the United Kindgom.
“I am very proud that Mizinga is the first Zambian, as well as the first woman, ever appointed as managing director and CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Zambia,’’ he said.
Mr Sokota also expressed his gratitude to Mr Aaker for his leadership during the past three years he worked with the Zambian branch.
He added that Standard Chartered Bank had consistently been the leading bank in Zambia during Mr Aaker’s tenure as MD and was proud of the achievement.
“He and his team delivered outstanding growth during this period which resulted in superior financial performance,’’ he said.
And Mr Aaker said it was a privilege to work in Zambia and be a member of such an outstanding team.
“I am proud of our achievements during the past few years, particularly those which have contributed back to the community where we live and work, such as our nets for life and youth life skills initiatives,’’ he said.
Mr Aaker said the appointment of Mrs Melu and her team would take the bank to the next level that would enable the bank to continue as the best in Zambia for many years to come.
Commenting on her appointment, Mrs Melu said was looking forward to working with the directors and the team in Zambia to build on the success and take the business to another level.
Prior to her appointment, Mrs Melu held the role of global head of development organisations for Standard Chartered Bank Group in London.
Her responsibilities included management of the group’s development organisations portfolio which includes multilateral and bilateral institutions and Non Governmental Organisations as well as the group’s microfinance initiatives.
Mrs Melu holds an MBA from Henley Management College in the United Kingdom
[Zambia Daily Mail]

EROGA UK makes a £400 donation to Roma

On Saturday 02 June, EROGA UK made a donation of £400 to Roma Girls. The money was handed over to Sr Kierran by Diane Wesa-Budd and Demetria Subulwa on behalf of EROGA UK. The money was raised as the result of an ongoing project where small monthly payments are made by UK based Erogan's into the EROGA UK bank account. At the moment only 10 Erogan's are participating - just think what more could be achieved if we had a few more people signing up for this worthwhile activity!

Unfortunately not many were free on that weekend to meet up and as a result another meeting has been planned for the last weekend in August (25/26) which is a bank holiday. UK Erogan's please mark this date in your diaries as Sr Kierran is flying over especially for this occasion. Details will be posted on the website and by email. Sr Kierran provided Di & Dem with the latest news from Roma along with the challenges of running school, which highlights the importance of fund raising projects made by Erogans.

I hope I have relayed the news correctly - if not Di & Dem can correct me. I believe a few photo's were taken which I am still awaiting...

Yvonne raises £900 for Roma Girls!

Hello all,

See below my recollections of Sr Kierran's visit to our parish church in Reading on Sunday 03 June 2007. Pictures of time at home will follow soon, hopefully. I forgot the camera at home and so did not take any at the mass. This went very well. Lonely and Chanda Mulenga came, which was really great. Hilda also came but after Sr Kieran had left (-about 5:30pm-she had had a long day and had to rest before yet another trip the following day.Mass was very touching, she received a very warm welcome and gave a very heartfelt thanks and speech from the heart.

Everyone had a lump in the throat and me tears....here is the bit about Roma I learnt...the school was set up in 1953 at a time when the education of girls was not even heard of. Girls were to be married and have children and be wives.....The sisters set out to fight this, against all odds. It continues to be a huge struggle even today, due to many barriers- poverty being the biggest. Sr felt overwhelmed by the support and generosity...She never thought there would be a link for Roma to experience such generously so far from home....She felt proud to see that what the school sets out to teach the girls....a sense of community, belonging, service and generosity to others...the Catholic values are evident today. She prayed that God would bless them all for their generosity- and did mention that although it would be drop in the ocean of need, it would go a long way in helping them continue to educate girls. 'Educate a woman and you educate the family'....The hand the rocks the cradle.....

The parish priest was also very happy that Sr Kieran came over and hoped that this would be the beginning of a lasting relationship, one that the parish would continue to support regularly, rather than this one off cheque of £750.00. After mass, a basket of cash donations was made and a further £150.00 was collected/ given! There were only a handful at this mass- in a small church in a small village- and yet so much given......In my running around I forgot to capture the moment on camera.....it was an amazing day and well worth the effort. See parish bulletin on the newsletters link http://www.saintmichaelsonningcommon.org.uk/

Best regards to you all...I shall check my eroga mail now so I hope none of this is repetition to you.

Yvonne Mubanga

PS. the African boy on the cover picture is my son Muma who received his first holy communion last Sunday.