Tourism executive Clement Mukwasi gets doctorate

TOURISM executive and former Zimpapers board member Mr Clement Mukwasi has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Leadership by an international university for his contribution to community development as a Government worker and a private sector player.

Jiazo Bible College University, an international christian vision ministerial university and clergy college registered in Florida, USA with a campus in Zambia conferred Mr Mukwasi with the Honorary Doctorate Degree in Leadership recently at a graduation ceremony held at the institution’s campus in Lusaka and graced by the Zimbabwe’s ambassador to that country Ambassador Charity Charamba who was guest of honour, among other dignitaries.

Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services Commissioner General Moses Chihobvu was also conferred with a similar doctorate for his excellent leadership styles in the Sadc region.

The institution assessed profiles of luminary professionals in different fields from Zambia, Malawi, Botswana and Zimbabwe.

Now Doctor Mukwasi, the university assessed the positions he has held in various Government boards and departments and other non-governmental boards in the private sector.

As a Zimpapers board member, Dr Mukwasi chaired the Business Development Committee in the previous board that was chaired by Mr Tommy Sithole.

He is a former commissioner for the Sports and Recreation Commission where he chaired the Audit and Risk Committee.

Dr Mukwasi also sat on the Private Voluntary Organisations Board under the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and was its deputy chairperson.

After starting as a constable in the police force for five years, Dr Mukwasi became a public prosecutor and served for eight years, He has now served as a tourism business executive in the tourism industry for 19 years under Shearwater Adventures group of companies.

He is founding president of the National Employment Council for the tourism industry and Employers Association for the Tours and Safari Operators which he is still president of.

His academic qualifications include Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Communication Studies from the Zimbabwe Open University (Zou), LLB Honours Degree in Law from University of South Africa and Master of Social Science in Development Studies from Zou.

He was a founding member of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly Legacy Projects Trust soon after the conference that was co-hosted by Victoria Falls and Livingstone, and it was the Trust that built Victoria Falls’s only public swimming pool in Chinotimba.

He was chairperson of the Victoria Falls Crime Consultative Committee and later became a vice chairperson of the provincial chapter.

He also chaired the Business Against Crime Forum, both platforms being partnerships between business sector and police in an effort to fight crime and enhance community policing.

Dr Mukwasi chairs the African Fish Eagle Private Voluntary Organisation that focuses on alleviation of poverty in vulnerable communities.

He also volunteers legal services to Arise and Shine for Community Development, an organisation founded and run by Reverend Travena Chichoni in Victoria Falls.

He is a member of two professional boards-the Law Society of Zimbabwe and Institute of Public Relations and Communications and has been Media Institute of Southern Africa chairperson for Victoria Falls chapter.

He chaired the affirmative Action Group Victoria Falls chapter and was vice chair for the provincial chapter.

Dr Mukwasi, an accredited journalist and tourism executive, is the public relations and corporate affairs manager for Shearwater Adventures.

He said that the doctorate degree award is an honour not only for him but for the whole community of Victoria Falls that have helped him in all of his leadership endeavours.

He also encouraged people to work hard giving due diligence to what they do in life.

“When you learn, you must learn as if you are not going to die. When you work, work as if you are working for God in any field. These are the two principles that every human being must embrace to succeed academically and get recognition,” said Dr Mukwasi, Dr Mukwasi is married and is a father of four daughters who are all at different levels of their academic pursuits.

Popularly known as the Victoria Falls Icon, Dr Mukwasi adds to a few resident academic doctors in Victoria Falls, a city with a population of about 40 000. Some of them are Dr Fungai Sithole with a doctorate in human resources management and Dr Mati Nyazema, the owner of Mbano Manor Hotel. -@ncubeleon