Chimbali quits as spokesman of Malawi health ministry

Ministry of Health Public Relations Officer (PRO) Henry Salmon Chimbali has resigned  with immediate effect from the ministry but kept the reason of quitting close to his chest.

“Yes I can confirm that I have quitted from the ministry and this is with immediate effect. There is nothing much I can say,” said Chimbali.

He was recently named by the country’s media watchdog Misa-Malawi as the most media friendly public relation officer who would professionally accommodate journalists and give information regardless of media organizations they represent.

But impeccable sources in the ministry told Nyasa Times that they feel Chimbali has resigned because of frustration.

“He was not promoted since he joined the Ministry as its spokesperson despite big job that he was entrusted with,” said our source.

Chimbali joined the ministry of health in 2003 as a health education officer at Nkhata-bay district hospital where he only worked for a year and was transferred to Lilongwe where he was tasked with handling of community health sciences unit where he also managed communications.

He then went for his master’s degree in science, media and communication to Cardiff University in the UK and returned in 2008.

In 2011 he started to work as a spokesman, a responsibility that was not taken up for a long time. Since then he has been in the media limelight in providing information and also managing external relations of the ministry.

Beside his education qualifications, Chimbali is a social and behavior change specialist with trainings in advocacy, communication, PR and research.

He is also an alumni of US – Malawi Exchange Programme that saw him go to the US where he visited different places including the White House for a meeting on HIV and Aids Education.