Online Reporter
Zvamaida Murwira
Senior Reporter
President Mnangagwa yesterday swore in Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Advocate Itayi Ndudzo, two deputy ministers, and commissioners to sit on constitutional bodies.
The officials immediately committed themselves to working hard to achieve national development goals and Vision 2030.
Those sworn in were Local Government and Public Works Deputy Minister responsible for Local Authorities and Traditional Leadership, Albert Mavunga, and Engineer Caleb Makwiranzou, who is Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development responsible for Oil and Gas Research including Strategic Minerals Exploration.
The President also swore in Chief Magistrate, Mrs Vongai Guwuriro, as a member of the Judicial Service Commission.
Commissioner Addelis Sibutha, who has joined the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission and Commissioner Ozias Machaya Hove, who will sit in the Zimbabwe Lands Commission, also took their oaths of office before the President.
In an interview after taking his oath, Eng Makwiranzou said he had done a lot of research and worked with several universities and hoped that the experience he got would give impetus to the Ministry of Mines and the country at large.
He said Zimbabwe needed to keep abreast with the several technological changes taking place.
“Well, I may have vast knowledge of gas and oil but this is a new position for me. Whenever you mine gas, it varies from area to area; you can only know the overall view of how to mine gas when we start work.
“I have ideas that I will gladly discuss with my minister, mining is changing, technology is changing. For example, on some of the mining dumps like copper, miners are going back to the dump and mining because technology has changed,” said Eng Makwiranzou, who is the Mutoko North legislator.
“I am ready to take up the challenge and I am actually honoured because this is a new area in Zimbabwe. Yes, we have started exploration as a country and there is positive indication that there is oil and gas in Zimbabwe.
“There are several sites where gas has been discovered and currently we have a big company Invictus; so we will be working with them.”
Eng Makwiranzou has served in many University Councils including those of the Bindura University of Science Education, Midlands State University and the National University of Science and Technology.
He once served as president of the Zimbabwe Institute of Engineers and president of Zimbabwe Association of Consulting Engineers among
other positions.
In addition to his engineering qualifications, he also holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Business Management from the University of Liverpool.
Deputy Minister Mavunga said while he will have to learn the ropes at the Ministry, he will provide leadership and team work.
“Firstly I want to thank His Excellency the President of Zimbabwe for giving me an opportunity to serve as deputy minister. I will serve to the best of my ability.
“On what to expect just give me a few days to settle but I hope to work closely with my boss at the Ministry. My strength is I will bring leadership and teamwork to drive the Ministry towards Vision 2030,” said Deputy Minister Mavunga, who is Nketa legislator in Bulawayo.
Minister Ndudzo said he felt humbled to take up greater national responsibility to serve Mashonaland East Province and Zimbabwe.
“I have taken another office to serve the people of Zimbabwe as mandated by His Excellency the President of Zimbabwe. I now have a greater responsibility to serve the people of Mashonaland East and Zimbabwe as a whole. So for me, it is an opportunity to serve,” said Minister Ndudzo, who is also Wedza North legislator and a lawyer.
Chief Magistrate Guwuriro said she will work hard to deepen the administration of justice in the country.
“As commissioner, one of the functions is to promote and facilitate a good environment where the judiciary operates, an environment that enhances its judicial independence, accountability to the people of Zimbabwe from whom we derive judiciary authority. My role will be to ensure that I foster such an environment in a manner that builds public confidence,” she said.
Comm Hove said his role would be to join hands with his counterparts to enhance land productivity and proper management.
“It requires that we do proper land management, not that we are not doing it, but my going there will be part of the team to improve and boost those inherent efficiencies. The objective is to deal with all the issues, the issue of title deeds, productivity; it is important that we utilise land productively,” said Comm Hove.
Comm Sibutha said she will work hard to raise awareness on human rights issues as envisaged by the Constitution.
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