Chronicle Editor
Africa Moyo, Harare Bureau
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has appointed new permanent secretaries to three ministries and has appointed a new Chief of Protocol and a head of the President’s Secretariat, both in the Office of the President and Cabinet.
In a statement last night, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda said President Mnangagwa approved the appointments in terms of his constituonal powers in Section 205(1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
Ambassador Chitsaka Chipaziwa is the Chief of Protocol in the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) with immediate effect. He holds qualifications in development and business administration and is an accomplished career diplomat who rose within the ranks in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and served Zimbabwe with distinction as a diplomat in Sweden, Australia,
South Africa, Malaysia and Brunei.
Ambassador Chipaziwa leaves the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to join the OPC to give urgency to the ongoing efforts to engage and re-engage the international community in pursuit of national development.
Ambassador Raphael Faranisi is the Head of the President’s Secretariat in the OPC. He is a career diplomat with experience in senior level administration, diplomacy and protocol services.
Ambassador Faranisi is a former Director of Protocol and served as a diplomat in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana and Zimbabwe’s Ambassador in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during which time he also served as Head of the Sadc Group of Ambassadors.
Ambassador Faranisi’s last post was as Chief Director for Multilateral Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. He is expected to lead a team of high-level technical and administrative personnel that constitutes an intelligent interface between the Office of the President and all our national stakeholders and international partners.
Mr Zvinechimwe Churu has been appointed Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.
“Mr Churu has more than 25 years of experience in public administration and management specialising in economic policy formulation and implementation, domestic and international finance, budget and expenditure management with a pointed focus on national economic development. “He also possesses private experience as a former chief executive officer of the National Oil
Company of Zimbabwe (NocZim),” said Dr Sibanda.
Mr Churu joins the local government sector from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development when there is renewed national interest supporting inclusive and sustainable economic growth and development in the context of institutional devolution.
His appointment is effective from December 1, 2019. A top intelligence official, Mr Aaron Nhepera, has been appointed Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage. He joins the ministry from the security and intelligence sector.
Mr Nhepera holds qualifications in accountancy and business management, and “possesses requisite experience in security and intelligence administration which competencies are key to deepening and expanding safety and security of persons, property, infrastructure and national institutions in the broader context of creating an enabling environment for and promoting ease of doing business in Zimbabwe”, said Dr Sibanda. He joins Home Affairs when there are renewed calls to combat crime and corruption in Zimbabwe. His appointment is with immediate effect.
Mr Melusi Matshiya who was Permanent Secretay for Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage has been moved to the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises
Development with immediate effect.
The former Women’s Affairs Secretary, Ambassador Dr Rudo Chitiga has been moved to the OPC while awaiting a new re-assignment.
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