Dickson Jere

Dickson Jere
Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations
In office November 2008 – October 28, 2011
President	Rupiah Banda
Preceded by	John Musukuma
Succeeded by	George Chellah
Personal details
Born	Dickson Jere 15 February Lusaka
Political party	MMD
Profession	Lawyer and Journalist
Website	State House Press Office - Zambia

Dickson Jere is a Zambian lawyer (barrister), journalist, published author ^[1] and renowned political analyst specializing on African affairs. He served as 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. Jere is a Lawyer and Advocate of the High Court for Zambia, having obtained an LLB degree from the University of Zambia and a Bar Practicing Certificate from the Zambia Institute of Advanced Legal Education (ZIALE). He is an Associate in a premier law firm, Mvunga Associates, where he specializes in Litigation, Business Advisory and General Counsel.

Journalism career

After his Diploma in Journalism, Public Relations and Advertising graduation from Sir Evelyn Hone College of Applied Arts and Commerce, Lusaka, Dickson Jere joined Zambia's leading daily newspaper and tabloid, The Post, as a reporter in the mid-1990s and it was here that he honed his journalism skills.

Jere worked with a chain of international media organisations, including the Agence France Presse (AFP), BBC Africa Service, Radio France International (RFI), Africa Confidential, African Energy and South Africa’s talk show Radio 702 where he regularly featured as a political commentator.

Constitution Review Commissioner

In 2003, President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC appointed Jere as a Commissioner on the Commission tasked to draft the country’s constitution.^[2][3] During his appointment, Jerewas also serving as President of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia as well as Board member of the Media Trust Fund. He also worked as Lead Consultant for the Access to Justice Program under the Ministry of Justice in Zambia where he was in charged of establishing a Public Relations wing and other customer care programs for the country's judiciary. Jere also worked as media advisor for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (Southern Africa regional office) as well as media liaison officer for the European Union Electoral Observation Mission to Zambia in 2001.

Work at State House

On November 2008, Dickson Jere was appointed by Rupiah Banda, the fourth republican president of Zambia, to serve as Chief Analyst at State House in-charge of press and a year later promoted to the position of Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations.^[4]

Professional Memberships

Currently, Jere is a member of the Law Association of Zambia and the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA). He also sits on the Human Rights Committee of the Law Association of Zambia.

Personal Life and Education

Jere was raised in the city of Lusaka where he attended Munali Secondary School where he excelled in the Debate Club and completed his Grade 12 in 1995. Dickson Jere, between 1996 and 1999 attended Sir Evelyn Hone College of Applied Arts and Commerce, Lusaka, for his Diploma in Journalism, Public Relations and Advertising. He later studied for his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree at the University of Zambia shortly before he was appointed to serve as press aide at State House. On March 14, 2014, Jere was admitted to the bar after passing a Legal Practitioners Qualification Examination (LPQE) at the Zambia Institute of Advanced Legal Education, which is a prerequisite post-graduate certificate for one to practice law in Zambia.

Extra-curricular Activities

Dickson Jere is involved in sports, currently holding the position of Vice President for the Zambia Judo Federation and Patron of the Black Rhino Football Club. While serving as advisor to President Banda, he was also appointed coordinator of fundraising for the Zambia National Soccer Team. As part of his hobbies, Jere enjoys playing golf and volleyball.

Bibliography

In 2014, Jere published his book Inside the Presidency: The Trials & Tribulations of a Zambian Spin Doctor which received many reviews and wide coverage in the Zambian media as well as abroad.^[1] As a result of the book, Jere was involved in a number of book signing sessions and presentations.

Inside the Presidency: the Trials and Tribulations of a Zambian Spin Doctor is a captivating chronicle of the goings on at the centre of state power as told by an insider. It captures the intrigues at the presidency, specifically associated with the author's time serving retired President Rupiah Banda.

Publications

• Jere, Dickson (2014). Inside the Presidency: The Trials & Tribulations of a Zambian Spin Doctor. United Kingdom: Nsemia Inc. ISBN 978-1926906362. 

References