Story by ZBC Reporter
HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa has described the late national hero, Dr Sydney Gata, as an unflinching patriot, who was committed to national development.
He was speaking at the burial of Dr Gata at the National Heroes Acre in Harare this Wednesday.
“Here lie the gallant sons and daughters of the soil, who consistently and persistently fought and sacrificed for the independence, freedom, and democracy we enjoy today. Many of those interred on this hallowed ground took part in the protracted liberation struggle against a brutal colonial regime. Over the years, a new generation of heroes has continued to emerge, distinguished individuals who have served with honour in various sectors, including public administration, diplomacy, commerce, and industry,” he said.
Dr Gata was declared a National Hero in recognition of his contributions to engineering, energy development, and patriotic service spanning several decades.
His life was shaped by the liberation struggle, as three of his brothers: Vhukile, Alec, and Lican died during Zimbabwe’s fight for independence, and he remained deeply committed to the cause of national development throughout his life.
After attending Hartzell and Fletcher High School, Dr Gata pursued science and engineering studies abroad, earning degrees in Chemical, Mechanical, and Solar Energy Engineering in Canada and the United Kingdom. He lectured at the University of London and City University, before returning to Zimbabwe to contribute to post-independence development.
“Dr Gata was instrumental in the establishment of ZESA and led the expansion of Zimbabwe’s electricity grid during his tenure, overseeing major national projects such as Hwange Power Station Stages 1 and 2, adding 600MW, the 330kV transmission system, and the Rural Electrification Programme. He also served as Regional Coordinator for the World Energy Council, and as an advisor at the African Development Bank, playing a vital role in shaping Southern Africa’s energy policies,” he said.
Though a world-class academic and technocrat, Dr Gata was also active in ZANU PF, serving in provincial roles and participating in grassroots development in his home district. In 2019, he was reappointed as Executive Chairman of ZESA Holdings, where he helped complete Hwange Units 7 & 8 and championed renewable energy initiatives.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, in a eulogy, praised the late Dr Gata as “an engineer par excellence” who “never carried his academic pedigree with a sense of superiority.”
“He will be remembered for his humility, unassuming professional demeanour, and the immense contribution he made to national energy and infrastructure development,” he said.
The President also said, Dr. Gata’s life embodied the national philosophy: “Nyika inovakwa, inotongwa, inonamatirwa nevene vayo.” (A country is built, governed, and prayed for by its own people.)
“Between 2000 and 2019, Dr Gata’s career took various turns. He joined the private sector as a managing partner at EMC Continental (Private) Limited, where he specialised in regional power development projects, advisory, and project sponsorship. In 2019, the late Dr Gata was reappointed Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ZESA Holdings (Pvt) Limited. He worked for the revival and expansion of Zimbabwe’s power generation and distribution capacity, whose highlights were the completion of Hwange Units 7 and 8. A great advocate of renewable energy, Dr. Gata always emphasised the importance of gradually transitioning our energy mix from fossil fuels. Only a week before his passing, Dr. Gata was honoured for his immense contribution to the energy discourse in our region, by the Southern African Power Pool during the organisation’s 30th Anniversary commemorations,” he said.
As Zimbabwe pushes towards becoming an upper middle-income economy by 2030, leaders called on citizens especially youth to emulate the National Hero’s dedication to building Zimbabwe through science, innovation, and service.
Dr Gata is survived by his wife, Honourable Angeline Gata, and their children. The nation joins the family in mourning a true patriot, a visionary leader, and a pioneer in Zimbabwe’s path to energy self-sufficiency.
