TRIBUTES continue to pour in for Zesa executive chairperson and national hero Sydney Gata, who passed on at a hospital in Harare on Thursday last week.
Gata is expected to be buried at the National Heroes Acre tomorrow.
In a statement, Energy and Power Development minister July Moyo described Gata as an energy expert who contributed immensely to the country’s energy sector.
“The late Dr Gata will be remembered for his devotion and immense contribution to this country as an expert in the energy sector. We applaud his leadership and vision on the construction of Hwange 7 and 8 Units, commissioned by His Excellency, the President of Zimbabwe, Dr ED Mnangagwa, two years ago,” he said.
Moyo said Gata was one of the pioneering generations of young experts who abandoned their high-paying jobs abroad to take up roles in the newly-independent Zimbabwe.
“In the early 1980s, his unique skills and capabilities were noticed during his service at the University of Zimbabwe by the government, which subsequently resulted in him being appointed the first black general manager of the Electricity Supply Commission from 1981 – 1985,” he said.
The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) said Gata left a lasting impression on the country's energy sector as he directed various initiatives aimed at improving electricity generation, transmission and distribution across the country and region.
“Dr Gata has left an indelible mark on Zimbabwe’s energy sector as witnessed by numerous initiatives he spearheaded aimed at improving electricity generation, transmission and distribution across the country and region,” Zera said.
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“His expertise and leadership were not only instrumental in shaping the operational landscape of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) but also the broader energy industry.”
Power Giants (Pvt) Ltd chief executive Edzai Kachirekwa described Gata’s death not only as the end of an era but the passing of a torch which many of those in the engineering and energy sectors must carry forward with purpose, clarity and courage.
“His legacy is not confined to Zimbabwe's borders. From the Sadc energy forums to international summits, his presence was commanding. He believed Zimbabwe had the intellectual and technical capacity to be a regional energy giant,” he said.
Meanwhile, Gata’s body was yesterday flown to Lot 72 Rupise Hotspring, Chipangayi in Manicaland, where relatives and colleagues are expected to pay their last respects.
It will lie in State before being flown back to Harare today.
A church service is set for Zesa Training Centre in Harare before burial tomorrow.
