The Sunday Mail
The late former head of the civil service, Dr Charles Utete, was “a giant” who helped actualise key national policies such as the massive education and training roll out that today places Zimbabwe in pole position on Africa’s literacy rankings, his successor has said.
Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda told The Sunday Mail yesterday that his former boss and predecessor dug deep to stitch together Zimbabwe’s first post-Independence bureaucracy — reputed as one of the best in Africa.
And Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantine Chiwenga added that Dr Utete was instrumental in not only shaping Zimbabwe’s post-1980 military, but also in forging the 1987 Unity Accord that ended civil disturbances and brought Zanu-PF and PF-Zapu together in a union that still guarantees peace and stability today.
Dr Sibanda said Utete offered keen leadership to all civil servants since 1980 when the country was transforming the colonial service into one that catered for majority aspirations.
Dr Sibanda said, “He was a pioneering leader in shaping Zimbabwe’s civil service at Independence, and will remain a giant owing to the service he rendered to the country. Dr Utete played a pivotal role in the training and leadership of civil servants, and was responsible for implementing a number of reforms in that important transition to Independence.
“So, he is the person who should be credited for building the civil servants unit at Independence.
‘‘The structure of the civil service, its organisation and system, can be credited to him. It is a legacy he has left. He was an upright, unassuming and incorruptible character whose giant shoes will be hard to fill.
“Our families have been very close ever since we knew each other. I have known Dr Utete since 1976 when I was in the United Kingdom and he was coming from America going to East Africa.
“From there, we developed a very close personal relationship to a point that even when he retired, we could personally interact. If I had some challenges and needed advice, he was the first person I would call. I feel a loss, personally, because we were extremely close.
“Although he was older than me, we were colleagues. I have lost a colleague with whom I travelled a long journey since the years of the struggle and post-Independence years.
“When he left office, the advice he gave me was to be incorruptible, humble and accessible; to be a unifier, and consult with all stakeholders.”
Gen Chiwenga, speaking to The Sunday Mail at the Utete family home last night, said the former head of the civil service was instrumental in shaping Zimbabwe’s military.
“Throughout all the difficult times up to the time when the two parties (Zanu and Zapu) came together and we had the Unity Accord in 1987, Dr Utete was instrumental in forging that deal.
“Also when we had problems due to the blockade resulting from Renamo bandit activities in Mozambique, Dr Utete was at the forefront of advising the Commander-in-Chief. We had to go and open our lines of communication for our exports and imports, which came mostly through the Beira Corridor.
“And we also had to open up the Chikwalakwala route leading to Maputo, and we also had the (route) from Nyamapanda to Malawi which was bringing exports for other countries. During that time, he was chief in advising Cabinet and Government; so we worked with him very closely on that.
“The Head of State and Government is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces. So, as the military, we worked closely with (Dr Utete). Anything that we were doing, whether in our interactions on constructing the ZDF into what it is, or the reviews, we did them with him.
“Today, we are proud because the ZDF is what it is because of his contributions. His legacy is that he will be known for having helped structure the civil service. He will be remembered for having helped structure the ZDF for what it is today.”
Environment, Water and Climate Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri was a secretary in then Prime Minister Mugabe’s office, working closely with Dr Utete.
She told this newspaper: “I worked with Dr Utete after the liberation struggle. He had always advised me to further my education in preparation for the new Zimbabwe.
“He was a quiet, humble man. On behalf of the Government and the people of Zimbabwe at large, I would like to thank the Utete family for having brought up such a principled and hard working man.”
Dr Utete (77) died after collapsing at his Harare home last Friday. He is survived by his wife, Verna, and five children.
Burial arrangements were being discussed last night.
