President Mnangagwa Applauds Late Dr. Sydney Gata as Visionary Dedicated to Zimbabwe’s Development

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has hailed the late Dr. Sydney Gata as a visionary leader and patriotic servant who dedicated his life to the transformation and modernisation of Zimbabwe’s energy sector.

Speaking at Dr. Gata’s burial at the National Heroes Acre on Wednesday, President Mnangagwa praised his outstanding contributions to national development, describing him as an “architect of Zimbabwe’s power infrastructure.”

As Chief Executive Officer of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), Dr. Gata oversaw major national projects that shaped Zimbabwe’s electricity generation and transmission capabilities.

These included the development of Hwange Power Station Stages One (480 MW) and Two (440 MW), as well as the Main 330 kV HV-AC Transmission System and Regional Interconnectors.

“Dr. Gata was a true patriot and an exceptional professional who understood that reliable energy is the backbone of industrialisation and economic growth,” President Mnangagwa said.

“He envisioned a Zimbabwe that is self-sufficient and empowered through modern infrastructure.”

Dr. Gata also played a critical role in establishing Zimbabwe’s National and Regional SCADA Power System Control Centres, the Urban and Rural Electrification Master Plan, and the amalgamation of six separate electricity undertakings into one unified national authority, ZESA.

He was the founding chairman of the Inception Committee for the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) and chaired the inaugural SADC Committee for SAPP, strengthening regional energy cooperation.

During his tenure at the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Dr. Gata successfully led the electrification of 5,400 rural public institutions within just three years under the Expanded Rural Electrification Programme (EREP). This transformative initiative dramatically improved access to electricity for rural communities across Zimbabwe.

“He brought light and hope to rural Zimbabwe, empowering our people and bridging the development gap between urban and rural areas,” President Mnangagwa added.

Dr. Gata’s technical achievements also included operational upgrades at Hwange Power Station, which raised plant availability from 58% to 85%, as well as the refurbishment and uprating of Kariba South Power Station, increasing its generation capacity from 666 MW to 750 MW.

Additionally, he championed the creation of 300 irrigation rehabilitation projects under the End Use Infrastructure Development Programme, further supporting rural livelihoods and agricultural productivity.

“Through his visionary leadership, Dr. Gata not only built power stations but empowered entire communities,” President Mnangagwa said.

“His legacy will continue to illuminate Zimbabwe’s path to an industrialised, self-reliant, and prosperous future.”

Dr. Gata was laid to rest with full military honours, celebrated by family, colleagues, and citizens as a national hero who devoted his life to powering Zimbabwe’s growth.