Online Reporter
Zvamaida Murwira, Zimpapers Writer
PUBLIC office bearers should be honest and hard working for the country to achieve its national objectives, President Mnangagwa has said.
In his speech at Dr Sydney Gata’s funeral wake in Harare yesterday, the President said Zimbabwe requires people of Dr Gata’s calibre to succeed.
Dr Gata, who was Zesa Holdings executive chairperson, passed away on Thursday after a short illness.
He was 79.
President Mnangagwa described him as a giant in the energy sector, whose brilliance transformed the local power utility and region.
“We needed people of his calibre. Zesa has grown to where it is now because of his leadership and guidance; his understanding in engineering. He was a huge asset,” the President said.
“One would have thought that as a result of his brilliance, he has amassed wealth. He still remained very simple and honest — very simple life . . .
“He had huge ideas, some of them too good to be believed but indeed he meant well. I actually listened, with regard to his focus, his vision in the energy sector, but we all have our time.”
What the Government looks at, President Mnangagwa said, was an individual who can deliver and is honest at work and in dealing with public affairs.
“What I am grateful for about Sydney is that he had a great life. He was a brilliant young man, a man of very high integrity. He has contributed immensely to our energy sector in this country,” he added.
“I feel we, as Government, did not reward him enough for all the things that he has done in the development of our energy sector, his ideas which we have implemented and which we continue to implement . . .
“But I say to him . . . we are proud of your record; you have done well for your country. You have served your country, your people with distinction. Very few Zimbabweans in that field, engineering, have the same distinction as you have achieved for your country. You have served this country without demanding much.”
Dr Gata, said President Mnangagwa, continued to be a shining example of leadership despite the fact that he was vilified by those who did not agree with him.
“Yes, you have been vilified left, right and centre, but that is the nature for those who do well. What is critically important is that you continued to focus, to deliver what was expected of you, your country, so to me he has died a noble death, he has died having discharged himself with distinction for his country,” he said.
The region, President Mnangagwa said, was benefitting from his advice.
“I marvelled when I called him to discuss both on national energy issues as well as regional issues. In fact, I am free to say in our SADC region, we have been benefitting from his advice about energy mix in the region . . . He has written several papers and thesis on energy. He was generally a bright boy. Even in the United Kingdom where he went to school, he left an excellent record. But then at the end of the day we all have our time.”
Dr Gata is husband to Primary and Secondary Education Deputy Minister Angeline Gata, who is also the Member of Parliament for Mutema-Musikavanhu constituency.
President Mnangagwa said Dr Gata was his nephew as the Deputy Minister is his niece.
“The Gata family is close to my family on the side of the wife, Angie, my niece, so nothing would happen, whether sad or good, without my knowledge,” he added.
“I would be told of everything. But as they say, no one can stop death. To my nephews, the children left behind, I want you to know that I am there for you. Your father has rested. He has played his part,” he said.
He urged Deputy Minister Gata to be strong.
Family spokesperson Mr Fortune Sambo thanked President Mnangagwa for commiserating with the family.
Dr Gata’s notable accomplishments include pivotal projects such as the Hwange Power Station Phases 1 and 2, the Main Transmission System and the Urban and Rural Electrification Master Plan, which significantly advanced Zimbabwe’s energy infrastructure.
He started his career as a lecturer at the Chelsea College of Aeronautical Engineering in London, the United Kingdom, where he made a huge impact in the fields of mechanical and aeronautical engineering.
He also lectured at the City University Department of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics in London before he came back home to become a lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe’s Faculty of Engineering.
Dr Gata was appointed the first black general manager of the Electricity Supply Company.
At the end of his five-year term, he was elevated to the post of chief executive officer and board member of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority.
During this period, Dr Gata also sat on the board of the Central Africa Power Corporation (CAPCO).
Dr Gata’s high profile saw him appointed to several important international energy organisations, including the World Energy Council (WEC), where he became a regional co-ordinator of the WEC Sub-Saharan African region.
Eventually, he became deputy chairperson of the Special Committee on Energy Finance for developing countries and the Studies Committee.
He also played an advisory and consultative role to the African Development Bank and Integrated Energy Systems Ltd (UK) on energy issues.
Cabinet Ministers, Zanu-PF senior officials, captains of industry, family members and friends, among others, attended yesterday’s funeral service.
Bongani Ndlovu