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Bridget Mavhimira and Grace Mahora
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa last night presided over the farewell party of one of the long serving directors in the ministry, Dr Ivanhoe Matengarufu Gurira, who she described as a cadre, a true gentleman and model civil servant.
She said the ministry was reluctant to see Dr Gurira go, given his determination to work and the milestones he achieved over the years.
Dr Gurira was born on January 29, 1957 in Gweru and joined the public service in 1995.
He joined the Ministry of Information in 2004, coming from the Ministry of Youth Development, Gender and Employment Creation.
His responsibilities at the time included being the spokesperson for Economic ministries and departments as well as the branding of policy initiatives of economic ministries.
In 2008, he became the director for International Communications Services and retired on January 29 this year, after serving for 18 years in the ministry.
Minister Mutsvangwa said as director International Communication Services, Dr Gurira was responsible for spearheading the ministry’s mandate of building a positive image for the country on the global arena and disseminating information on Government policies, projects and programmes to the regional and international communities.
“He was instrumental in the coordination of content generation towards various ministry publications such as the ‘Zimbabwe in Brief’ booklet published by the New African Magazine under the old dispensation, which was well received by readers across the globe,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
Prior to his retirement, Dr Gurira proposed resuscitation of the ‘Zimbabwe in Brief’ with a focus on the milestones achieved by the Second Republic, investment opportunities in the country as well as disseminating information on Government policies, programmes and projects, mainly Vision 2030, the devolution concept and the National Development Strategy 1.
In his remarks, Dr Gurira thanked Minister Mutsvangwa and the entire team at the ministry for ensuring “there is a change in the way senior civil servants retire”.
He added that it was an honour for him to work in the ministry as he had the opportunity to interact with the most important people in the country.
“I would say I was shaped to a great extent by the industry during the 18 years I have worked,” he said.
“The media is my second family and I wish you the very best and hope the media, be it private or public, plays its role as we work towards Vision 2030 9of an empowered upper middle income society).”
Dr Gurira said he would be available to assist when needed and continue contributing to the industry.
He is a holder of a PhD in Economics from Moscow’s State University Management.
Minister Mutsvangwa praised the event sponsors, Zimpapers (1980) Limited and ZBC.
Deputy Minister of Information Kindness Paradza, Permanent Secretary Mr Nick Mangwana and Zimpapers Editorial Executive Mr William Chikoto, attended the farewell.
Online Reporter