The Sunday Mail
When he was dismissed in 2014 as Deputy Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, many thought his political career was effectively consigned to the trash can of history.
He had held the portfolio for only 15 months before he was jettisoned during the Zanu-PF 2014 December Congress, which saw other political heavyweights such as Dr Joice Mujuru as well as Messrs Rugare Gumbo and Dzikamai Mavhaire falling by the wayside.
His crime – he was considered to be a foot soldier in factional fights that were tearing the ruling Zanu-PF apart.
But Advocate Fortune Chasi soldiered on, content to serve the revolutionary party as an ordinary card-carrying cadre.
In December 2017, Adv Chasi was appointed Deputy Secretary for Legal Affairs in Zanu-PF.
In September this year, after having retained his Mazowe South Parliamentary seat, he bounced back into Government in spectacular fashion.
He was appointed Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development.
“I did not despair, I continued to work in my constituency and worked twice as hard. I felt I needed to do that,” the soft-spoken lawyer said with a chuckle.
“Fortunately, the people stood by me and I managed to get close to 10 000 more votes than I got during the 2013 elections.”
“For those who thought I would make a comeback, they never thought I would land (Transport and Infrastructure Development) this portfolio,” he said.
“They thought, if I made a comeback, I would be given back the Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs portfolio. However, you know what they say about lawyers, we are versatile and we fit in almost any organisation.”
Born on 5 February 1965 and raised in Mazowe, he attended Kanyemba Primary School and Mpopoma High School.
He studied for his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Honours Degree at the University of Zimbabwe and his Master of Laws at the Univesity of Essex in the United Kingdom.
He also holds a degree in International Relations.
Adv Chasi worked at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe as legal counsel for many years.
He believes his legal background will be useful in his new posting.
“It is a big Ministry with numerous parastatals – Caaz , Zinara, Air Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Airways, NRZ, et cetera. All these parastatals have one problem or the other.
“All these require solutions.”
The Deputy Minister highlighted that his ministry is at the core of the economy.
“Our transport policy must speak to the economy, we must be able to deliver the necessary road, air and rail infrastructure.
“I am here at a very interesting time. What we do has the power to change the lives of the people of Zimbabwe.
“I am determined to bring change through corporate governance at these parastatals.
“We will not tolerate incompetence and corruption. We will definitely descend on them like a hammer. People will be fired if they do not adhere to proper governance of the parastatals,” he said.
But achieving this means Adv Chasi, who has tried his hand on music, will have to cut back on that second love.
Having been smitten by Zimdancehall, the colourful legislator released a 12-track Zimdancehall album titled “No Violence” ahead of this year’s elections.
He worked on the hit song “Zuva Ranhasi” with Soul Jah Love before releasing “Child Marriages” and “Raramo Kubatana”, a duet with Dr Tawanda. The legislator also worked with Killer T on the track “Zimbabwe Ino”. Then on “Life Haisi Easy”, he worked with Guspy Warrior.
For now, Adv Chasi says he will largely focus on serving the nation.
