UN chief names deputy head of Liberia mission

UN Secretary-general Ban Ki- moon has appointed Aeneas Chapinga Chuma of Zimbabwe as his deputy special representative for Recovery and Governance of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), said a statement issued here on Tuesday by Ban's spokesman. Chuma will also serve as the United Nations resident coordinator, humanitarian coordinator and resident representative in the West African country, the statement said. He will replace Moustapha Soumare of Mali, who now serves as the secretary-general's deputy special representative in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the statement said. "Mr. Chuma brings with him a wealth of development and leadership experience," the statement noted, adding that he is currently serving as the resident coordinator, humanitarian coordinator and resident representative in Kenya. Previously, Chuma was the resident coodinator and resident representative of the United Nations in Zambia from 2003 to 2008, as well as the deputy resident representative in Mozambique from 2000 to 2003 and in Uganda from 1996 to 2000. "He also held various positions ith the United Nations Development Program in New York, Oman and Zimbabwe," the statement said. In addition to his extensive experience with the United Nations, Chuma also served as a macroeconomist and econometrician with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, noted the statement. Chuma holds a master's degree in Applied Economics from the University of California, it added.