By Chisomo Phiri
The Board of Directors of the Pesticides Control Board (PCB) has announced the appointment James Chiku Kaphale as the new Registrar and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective May 1, 2026.
In a statement, the board’s chairperson Buchizga Victor Madhlopa says Kaphale’s international exposure, including his recognition as a Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow, will be an asset to the institution.
Kaphale brings nearly two decades of experience in regulatory and administrative leadership.
He has previously served as Executive Director of the Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC), Director of Legal Services at the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA), and Director of Administration and Company Secretary at Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) Limited.
Kaphale has also held the position of Director of Administration and Corporate Services at the Malawi Housing Corporation (MHC).
In academia, he served as Dean of Law at the Catholic University of Malawi(CUNIMA).
Academically, Kaphale is in the final stages of completing a PhD in Public Administration at the University of Malawi(UNIMA).
He holds a Master of Laws (LLM) from the University of Minnesota in the United States, an Executive Master of Communications Management (EMCM) from Buckinghamshire New University in the United Kingdom, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) as well as a Bachelor of Laws (Honours), both from the UNIMA.
