Learning from the über bureaucrat

31 Jul, 2016 - 00:07 0 Views

The Sunday Mail

Dr Charles Munhamu Botsio Utete was an embodiment of rare intellect, professional excellence, loyalty and dedication to duty and his legacy remains a shining beacon for the best in service delivery, humility, courage and transformational leadership for the ultimate improvement of the lives of Zimbabweans.

The Office of the President and Cabinet reminisces on Dr Utete’s time at the Office with deep appreciation and would like to share with the nation some accolades and landmarks, if not visionary, accomplishments of Dr Utete, the former Permanent Secretary to the then Prime Minister and Cabinet and the first Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet.

He was the chief architect, the ultimate bureaucrat who helped create one of the most competent and vibrant Public Administration systems on the African continent in support of all the pillars of the State, ie. the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary.

Dr Utete, when fate reposed on him the very lofty responsibility and historical opportunity to be in public service at the highest level, and given his association with some of Zimbabwe’s best intellectuals and freedoms fighters albeit some of them his school and college mates, as head of the Civil Service assembled very distinguished, tried and able Zimbabweans to embark on the noble duty of Development Administration for the new Nation State of Zimbabwe.

The nation is reminded of some revered intellectuals and some of them departed also, who distinguished themselves in the public service, locally and internationally, who became Dr Utete’s chosen rallying technocrats, the likes of the current Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck JM Sibanda, the current Chairman of the Public Service Commission Dr Mariyawanda M Nzuwah, Mr Willard A Chiwewe, Dr Herbert M Murerwa, Dr Ibbo Mandaza, Dr Stan I G Mudenge, Dr Elleck Mashingaidze, Dr Tom Mswaka, Dr Tichaona Jokonya, Dr Robbie Mupawose, Mr James Chitauro, Dr Stanely Mahlahla, Dr Timothy Muzondo, Dr N Mawande, Dr Kombo Moyana (later becoming first black Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe), Dr Mudziviri Nziramasanga, Dr Mike Mambo, Dr Office Chidede, Dr Leonard Chitsike, Dr Chris Ushewokunze, Dr Benson Ndimande, Dr Tobias Takavarasha, Dr Mufaro JB Hove, Dr Leonard Tsumba (another RBZ Governor), Engineer Paul Kodzwa, Mr Charles T Kuwaza, Dr Mangwana, Mr July Moyo, Mr Sam Geza, Dr William Mudekunye, Dr Elizabeth Xaba, Commissioner Tendai Bare, Dr Makuto, Dr Buzwani D Mothobi, Dr Elijah Chanikira, Mr Stephen Chifunyise, Mr Stan Chigwedere, Mr Austin Zvoma, Mrs Sarah Kachingwe, Mr Zuva Makoni, Mr Elisha Mushayakarara, Mr Tinaye Chigudu and Ambassador Margaret M Muchada, among so many others.

All these assisted to buttress a first Cabinet team also of eminent Zimbabweans.

Dr Utete and his colleagues presided over a very challenging period of transformation in the history of the country. Zimbabweans may recall that this was the era of triple Rs, ie Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation, all daunting tasks demanding only the kind of brinkmanship and leadership qualities imbued in the epitome of the head of the civil service, Dr Utete.

The monumental task of national reconstruction and rehabilitation was itself a direct consequence of the war of liberation, which bequeathed to us the right to self-determination, sovereignty and indeed ushered in the birth of Zimbabwe as the new nation State.

The new Government now had to grapple with the educational, health and other infrastructural service requirements of the majority of the people.

As reconciliation and healing remains the unfinished business as the nation continues to consolidate social cohesion, peace and unity, Dr Utete assisted in laying the foundation, as the aspect of peace is intrinsic in reconciliation.

As the new nation State emerged, Dr Utete in crafting development administration policies, employed pragmatism in the face of a thriving mixed economy that now had to serve a new political dispensation.

It may be remembered that the post-Independence pragmatic policy framework espoused by Government recognised the importance of both the public sector and then private sector in national development.

To this day, the Office of the President and Cabinet continues along that trajectory, thanks to the legacy left behind by Dr Utete.

Dr Utete organised for the successful mobilisation of US$2 billion for the reconstruction effort during the Zimbabwe Conference on Reconstruction and Development and thereafter, working closely with the legendary Dr Bernard T Chidzero and his team facilitated the conceptualisation and elaboration of Zimbabwe’s first Economic Policy Statement, “Growth with Equity” (1981).

The Economic Policy Statement provided the framework for the Three-Year Transitional National Development Plan and the First and Second Five-Year National Development Plans covering the period to 1990.

Dr Utete saw to the conclusion of Vision 2020, a long-term planning perspective that continues to guide the planning frameworks such as the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset).

Embracing the smart partnership philosophy led to the creation of the National Economic Consultative Forum, a platform that enables stakeholder consultations for imputing into identified new policy requirements and indeed, reviewing existing policies as appropriate.

Dr Utete together with Dr Robbie Mupawose were founding Co-Chairmen of the National Economic Consultative Forum, whose Patron is His Excellency the President Cde RG Mugabe.

The NECF – its structures and international network – has become a crucial forum for consensus building on emerging development challenges.

The networking platform of the NECF attracted scientists and luminaries such as Prof Chris Chetsanga, Dr Gopo and Prof Heneri Dzinotyiweyi; Business leaders and bankers such as Rose Peters, Isaac Takawira and Taka Mutunhu as we as Labour leaders in the mould of Isidore Zindoga.

The nation may be reminded that the Tripartite Negotiationg Forum that engages Government, Labour and Employers in consensus building for industrial harmony, is part of the smart partnership philosophy that strives for the creation of a social contract among the social partners.

Within the Office of the President and Cabinet, we were indeed privileged to work under the inspiring leadership of Dr Utete. He taught us to exude the qualities and dignity of the Office as exemplified by its principal, HE the President.

Even the dress code became a distinguishing feature of the Office.

His pioneering support staff included Ambassador Grace T Mutandiro, Mr Chiota, the late Amos Mushaninga, Ms G Madondo, Mrs E Nyandoro, Mrs D Madava, Mrs E Kaisi, Mr Muzira and his driver, Mr Charedzera.

He taught us, together with Dr MJM Sibanda and Mr WA Chiwewe, how to draft speeches for the principal, carrying policy pronouncements, providing policy direction to the whole Government machinery and outlining the legislative agenda.

He taught us the dignity of working hard without expecting much in return.

He set a firm foundation for the creation of the core departments in the Office, beginning with the Cabinet Secretariat (falling directly under the Chief), the Modernisation Department (Deputy Chief Secretary Dr RC Ndhlukula), Department of Policy Co-ordination and Research (Deputy Chief Secretary Rtd Col CM Katsande), the Monitoring, Implementation and Evaluation Department (Deputy Chief Secretary Mr JM Mupamhanga), as well as the supportive Finance and Admin Departments operating under the accounting officer.

The Department of State Residences and HE the President’s Secretariat benefited immensely from his wise counsel. So did the departments of Protocol and State Occasions, as well as the Presidential Scholarships Department.

In his more restricted role as Secretary to Cabinet, Dr Utete – assisted by the former Head of Cabinet Secretariat Operations Mr Simon Galloway – shaped the inherited Cabinet Committee system into the robust foundry for the formulation of Government policies it is today.

These core departments, together with the newly established Knowledge Management and Public Affairs (Ambassador M Mubi) and the Corporate Governance Unit (Ambassador SH Comberbach) now constitute the anchoring platform for the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet leading and coordinating role in the implementation of the results-based Zim-Asset.

His firm belief in the core value of cross-fertilisation of ideas in key Government institutions saw the secondment to the former National Planning Commission of senior RBZ staffers such as Mr Sam Malaba, to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (Mr Willard L Manungo) and to the Privatisation Agency of Zimbabwe (Mr Andrew Bvumbe), and the appointment of Mr Nick Ncube as RBZ Deputy Governor, having served as Secretary for Finance.

He kept the key institutions of the Research Council of Zimbabwe (initially under Dr Elliot Zvangobani) and the Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre (now under Prof Robson Mafoti) under the Office to ensure direct access to sound scientific advice for the principal.

Under his guidance, and in order to implement the vision of the principal, Government in the 1980s and 1990s put together a vigorous Manpower Development Planning framework that saw many Zimbabweans being trained abroad in large numbers and in areas of critical need, leading to the very high skills base and educational prowess that Zimbabwe is now well known for. Much progress was witnessed in the area of public service and labour reforms.

Working closely with the Public Service Commission, heads of ministries under his leadership pursued a public service reform agenda meant to create a performance oriented public sector with a culture of quality service delivery to Zimbabwe’s citizenry.

Under this thrust, each ministry, parastatal/State enterprise and local authority was directed to operate on the basis of clear institutional visions, mission statements, core values, client service charters and mandates that are people and results-oriented.

Dr Utete established a Policy Review Panel in the Office of the President and Cabinet which roped in the Public Service Commission, the ministries of Finance, Labour, Planning, Industry, Agriculture, Transport and Energy among others.

Its purpose was to interrogate the entire strategic management apparatus of the bureaucracy with a view to ensuring that Ministries effectively discharge their mandates.

It created a Heads of Ministries Forum which met monthly to focus on specific areas of policy implementation as highlighted by Cabinet.

These platforms and fora promote horizontal and vertical synergies across sectors, Ministries and Agencies, resulting in goal congruence and teamwork.

This surely explains why the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck JM Sibanda has recently reactivated the High Level Policy Review Panel to ensure the proactive co-ordination of the management of all strategic and critical national programmes and projects.

On his retirement in 2003, and after the successful Land Acquisition Programme, Dr Utete was immediately thrust to the helm of the Presidential Land Commission.

The Commission made far-reaching recommendations for the agrarian reforms necessary in providing a permanent basis for a thriving agricultural sector, whose implementation is now unfolding.

During his retirement, Dr Utete also chaired the Policy Advisory Group in the Office of the President and Cabinet. The Group was able to proffer policy advice that led to the resuscitation of Fidelity Printers and Refiners, creation of the Sovereign Wealth Fund, Assessment of the Look East Policy, Review of Zimbabwe’s Investment and Regulatory Framework, Economic Partnership Agreements (with the EU) and their impact on Zimbabwe, inter alia.

He was deputised by Mr WA Chiwewe and worked closely with former RBZ Governor Dr K Moyana, former RBZ deputy governors Nick Ncube and Edward Mashiringwane.

Dr Utete had a professional and good working relationship with the security services.

Naturally, a key assistant to the Principal, he provided guidance and leadership to the Prime Minister’s Department which later became the President’s Department.

Throughout the years of integrating the uniformed forces, he worked closely with the command element and the chairman of the service commissions, to build the disciplined and competent security forces that have brought national pride to Zimbabwe.

As for the diplomatic world, Dr Utete mentored the initial crop of Zimbabwe’s ambassadors, such as ambassadors MJM Sibanda, S Mumbengegwi, MS Kajese, E Mashingaidze, S Mudenge, R Zvinoera, B Jambgwa, P Chisese, S Chiketa, A Mtetwa, BG Chidyausiku, JM Bimha, K Nkomani, A Blumeris, S Mahaka, A Chidoda, A Mugomba, Prof Kahari, F Chitauro, G Maseko, N Chideya, H Patel, Mayowe, Mashaire, H Katedza, L Tavaya, N Ndondo, M Mapuranga, Dhliwayo, M Mubi, E Punungwe and many others.

He helped shape foreign policy through recommending the appointment of these eminent intellectuals and outstanding diplomats, and believed in the full utilisation of their reports as they represented the Head of State and Government at their stations of posting.

He demonstrated his appreciation and knowledge of the importance of foreign policy in national development by organising exchange programmes and secondment of foreign experts in diplomatic training.

Many diplomats will fondly recall Ghana’s Ambassador Debra for his meticulous induction programmes.

On the international front, Dr Utete was instrumental in the establishment of and chaired the inter-governmental negotiating fora that led to the creation of the Preferential Trade Area for Eastern and Southern Africa (now Comesa) and Sadc.

He provided High-Level service to various landmark summits like the Non-Aligned Movement, Commonwealth Heads of State and Government, the World Solar Summit, among many others.

He also gave guidance to officials for trade negotiations at the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and its successor World Trade Organisation.

The Chief Secretary, Deputy Chief Secretaries, Senior Staff and all members of staff in the Office of the President and Cabinet will always cherish Dr Utete’s outstanding and visionary leadership, which has seen him being interred at the National Heroes Acre, a very fine and befitting tribute for the chief architect and founding Head of the Zimbabwe Public Service.

To Mrs Verna Utete and the Utete Family we express our deepest and heartfelt condolences, and as His Excellency the President said “We robbed you of much of what would have been quality family time, but we in the Office and Government will forever be truly grateful for his passionate service, loyalty and exemplary leadership”.

Go well Son of the Soil, Go well our National Hero, Go Well Pakuru, Go well Sambiri, Go well weGanda!

May your soul rest in eternal peace.

Courtesy of the Office of the President and Cabinet

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