HARARE, 22 JANUARY 2025
Acting President Dr CGDN Chiwenga has announced the passing of Cde Justin Mupamhanga at Arundel Clinic this morning, following a brave fight against diabetes and high blood pressure.
Dr Chiwenga expressed his grief, stating, “I learnt with a deep sense of grief and sadness of the passing on at Arundel Clinic this morning of Cde Justin Mupamhanga after a brave fight against diabetes and high blood pressure.”
Cde Mupamhanga was a veteran of the Liberation Struggle who sacrificed his studies at the then University of Rhodesia in 1975 to join the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA). He later played a critical role in driving the implementation of government programmes as the Deputy Chief Secretary responsible for Monitoring and Evaluation in the Office of the President and Cabinet, working under the then Chief Secretary, Dr MJM Sibanda.
“He superintended over numerous strategic and key government programmes in agriculture, energy, and infrastructure development. He was my point man for programmes that we implemented to improve development in the Kanyemba area of Mbire District, in Mashonaland Central Province. He was a fireball workhorse and go-getter, who despite suffering a stroke, continued to drive government programmes and projects with conviction, zeal, and determination,” said Dr Chiwenga.
Cde Mupamhanga joined the Liberation Struggle in Mozambique and was allowed to complete his university studies soon after completing his initial military training. He later held important positions in the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) and ZANLA commissariat and education departments. After Independence, he began his civil service career in Government in 1983 in the Economics Division of the President’s Department. He rose through the ranks, first establishing and heading the Economics Branch, serving as Minister Counsellor at Zimbabwe’s Diplomatic Mission in London, United Kingdom, and later being elevated to the position of Deputy Director in the President’s Department under His Excellency President, Dr ED Mnangagwa, then Minister responsible for State Security.
During times of the El Nino-induced droughts that have from time to time devastated the Southern African Region, Cde Mupamhanga was part of a Taskforce that included the then Airforce Commander, Air Marshall Perrance Shiri, Major General Amoth Chimombe, and Ngoni Masoka, the then Secretary for Agriculture, charged with the responsibility to import grain and avert hunger in the country.
Cde Mupamhanga was later appointed Secretary for Energy and Power Development. During his tenure as Secretary, he played a key role in the liberalisation of the fuel industry, which eliminated fuel shortages and increased participation by indigenous businesses in that sector. He also led the restructuring of the National Oil Company of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) into self-contained business units, and introduced the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority.
As Deputy Chief Secretary Responsible for Monitoring and Evaluation in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Cde Mupamhanga oversaw the implementation of major projects such as the construction of Tugwi-Mukosi Dam. The highlight of his career was as the Chairman of Command Agriculture, during which he laid the framework for agricultural productivity, helping Zimbabwe to reclaim its breadbasket status in the Region. He retired in 2019 after 36 years of dedicated service to Government and country but continued as Chairman of Kuvimba Mining House. At a personal level, Cde Mupamhanga valued land, one of the major grievances that drove him and other youth to the struggle, and carried out successful farming operations in Mashonaland Central Province.
Dr Chiwenga conveyed his condolences, saying, “May I, on behalf of His Excellency the President, Dr ED Mnangagwa, and the First Family, the Nation, the ruling ZANU PF Party, Government, and my family, express my deepest and heartfelt condolences to the Mupamhanga Family, including Amai Mupamhanga and the children, who include our Deputy Minister for Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Hon Kuda Mupamhanga, on their saddest loss. May they derive solace from the knowledge that the Nation today joins them in mourning the sad and untimely demise of this illustrious son of the soil.”
In recognition of his distinguished role in the struggle for Independence and in the development of the nation, especially in laying the foundations and growing the agriculture and energy sectors, His Excellency President Dr ED Mnangagwa, in consultation with the Politburo, has directed that Cde Justin Mupamhanga be accorded National Hero status.
“May his dear soul rest in eternal peace,” concluded Dr Chiwenga.
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