Pensions Master Mnkandla dies

Herald Correspondent
THE Pension Master in the Public Service Commission Mr Sylvester Mnkadla has died. He was 65. In a statement yesterday, Public Service Commission chairman Dr Mariyawanda Nzuwah said Mr Mnkadla served the commission for 43 years.

“With grief and sorrow, the Public Service Commission hereby informs of the sad passing on of Mr Sylvester Jack Mnkandla (1952 – 2017), at West End Hospital on 20th September 2017,” he said.

“Mr Mnkandla was the Pensions Master and had loyally served the Public Service for 43 years.” Mr Mnkandla was born in Silobela on May 4, 1952. He went to St Xavier’s School; Loreto Mission; Chikwingwizha Seminary and Domboshava Training Centre before joining the Civil Service in 1974.

“At that time, Africans, no matter how educated they were, they could only be employed as clerks in the then Civil Service,” said Dr Nzuwah.

Mr Mnkandla upgraded his education from a clerk with Ordinary Levels to holding a Masters in Business Administration. He rose to become Director of Pensions in 2005. The post was later changed to Pensions Master. Mr Mnkandla was responsible for developing and reviewing pension scheme policies in line with evolving pension reforms, supervised and monitored the effective implementation of the Public Service Pensions Fund policies and programmes.

“In his daily conduct, both at work and in his private time, Mr Sylvester Mnkandla was a highly likeable person, exuding a sense of natural understanding about human bonding and connectivity,” said Dr Nzuwah.

“He was always calm, cool, collected and unusually patient. His job put him through untold stress where he had to, more often than not, deal with irate individuals and extremely taxing situations, but he always managed to keep himself in the check.”

“There are many adjectives that can be used to describe Mr Mnkandla but none come close to aptly describing the humble, true gentleman that he truly was. For lack of fitting words, Mr Mnkandla was principled in that he was always consistent in word and in deed, a clear marker of trustworthiness.

He was honest and responsible about what he did and how he treated other people. In his 43 years in the employ of the Public Service Commission, there never was an adverse report about his work nor about his character and conduct.” Dr Nzuwah said the Public Service lost a true asset.

“The Chairperson of Service Commissions, commissioners, the Secretary and Secretariat extend their heartfelt condolences to the Mnkandla family, relatives and colleagues on his sad loss. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”