Kalyalya, a respected economist, returns to the position he held as recently as August last year when he was summarily fired by the then-president, Edgar Lungu.

Kalyalya, who previously served as a World Bank executive director, was first appointed as central bank governor in February 2015.

He replaces Christopher Mvunga, who resigned after Hichilema romped to a landslide election victory over Lungu in August.

(Reporting by Chris Mfula,; writing by Wendell Roelf; Editing by Kevin Liffey)