NNN appoints retired relative as legal adviser to attorney general

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has appointed Chris Nghaamwa, a retired legal expert and her relative, to serve as an adviser to Attorney General Festus Mbandeka. The appointment became effective on June 1, though it was not formally publicized alongside other recent government staffing announcements. Presidential spokesperson Jonas Mbambo defended the decision, asserting that Nghaamwa’s familial connection to the president does not disqualify him from public service. Officials emphasized that the selection was based on Nghaamwa’s extensive three-decade career within the Office of the Attorney General. Mbandeka further noted that the president holds constitutional authority to appoint advisers based on professional expertise and the specific needs of the government. Nghaamwa previously retired from his public service role in June 2024 before returning to the office just three months later.

The appointment has sparked public scrutiny regarding nepotism and transparency in high-level government staffing decisions.