I have no problem with alcohol and those who know me will tell you that my drinking cannot affect my work, says new State House Press Aide Isaac Chipampe, explaining that the circulating picture of him with a brown bottle were taken from his house.

And Chipampe says there is nothing wrong with the President addressing journalists at the airport, but understands that a press conference is one of the most effective ways for a Head of State to reach out to citizens and has therefore promised to engage President Edgar Lungu to consider having one soon.

Meanwhile, Chipampe says there is nothing wrong with him being too close to his predecessor Amos Chanda, and that he will welcome his advise on how to run Presidential affairs.

Newly appointed presidential press aide Isaac Chipampe says there is nothing wrong with the president speaking to the media at the airport as long as the message has been delivered.

Featuring on Lusaka based Hot FM breakfast show, Friday, Chipampe who has previously worked as managing editor at Zambia Daily Mail and recently served as director for press and media development at the ministry of Information, said he takes no offence to circulating pictures of him socialising.

“You know, I wasn’t offended by those pictures, I would have been offended if the photos were taken from out there. But it’s ok because they were taken in my home. I have no problem with alcohol and those who know me will tell you that my drinking cannot affect my work,” Chipampe responded to the interviewer, as he laughed.

The Press Aide said there were various ways for the President to engage with the press, arguing that there was nothing wrong with talking to journalists at the airport.

“And I can tell you that the president does not need a particular fora to speak to the people, he has been speaking in various places like events, at the airport, and there is nothing wrong with that as long as the message is delivered. But I agree with you that a press conference is one of the most effective ways that it can be done,” he admitted.

“One of my duties is to ensure that the president is as close as possible to the people, the president needs to be communicating to the people. It can be through my office or directly or through the media, so yes, a press conference is one way that the president can speak to the people and very soon we will be talking about that, you shall be invited.”

Meanwhile, Chipampe said there is nothing wrong with him being too close to his predecessor Amos Chanda, and that he will welcome his advice on how to run Presidential affairs.

“There is nothing wrong with being close to Mr Chanda, he is my young brother, he was still in school when I joined Daily Mail and we worked together very well. When I was at the ministry we collaborated very well and you can’t expect that I will ignore a person like him. I can say that his advice is welcome as he has experience in this office. We have spoken already and have already done some handovers,” said Chipampe.