FORMER Secretary to the Cabinet and head of the Zambia Atomic Energy Agency Roland Msiska has passed away.

Confirming the development in a statement, Secretary to the Cabinet Dr Simon Miti disclosed that Dr Msiska passed away in Lusaka.

“Government regrets to announce the death of Dr Roland Msiska, former secretary to the cabinet, who died in Lusaka on Tuesday, March 24. His Excellency, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia, has expressed sadness over the death of Dr Msiska and since conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family,” Dr Miti said in a statement, Wednesday.

“Members of the public are, however, informed that the gathering at the funeral house has been restricted to close family members in observance of public health guidelines and restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Since February, 2019, Dr Msiska had been Director General of the Zambian Atomic Energy Agency (ZAMATOM).

He previously served as secretary to the cabinet from 2012-2019 preceding Dr Miti.

Prior to his appointment in 2012, he served as deputy secretary to the cabinet responsible for civil service reforms, a post that was preceded by the role of Permanent Secretary for the Public Service Management Division.

Dr Msiska was a medical doctor and held a Master’s degree in healthcare from the Royal Tropical Institute in the Netherlands and is a medical practitioner with bachelor’s degrees in medicine and surgery from the University of Zambia (UNZA).

He also served in various positions in healthcare and as project director for the United Nations Development Programme and executive director at the Namibian Institute of Public Administration.

He was a consultant to the World Bank, the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the United Nations, and the UN World Health Organisation (WHO).