The Commissioners
Commissioners
The Constitution of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) Act provide for the appointment of nine Commissioners to carry out the mandate of the Commission. These 9 Commissioners were sworn into office by the former President, His Excellency, Robert Gabriel Mugabe on the 3rd of September 2015. The Commission has an impressive mix of qualifications, competencies and experiences that are pertinent to the advancement of gender equality and equity in Zimbabwe. The mix presents many entry points for addressing systemic gender discrimination and barriers found in social, economic, traditional, religious, political and academic settings. The following table presents the current Commissioners and their profiles.
Margaret Mukahanana-Sangarwe
Education
She is a holder of MBA (UZ), MSc in Natural Resources Management (Manitoba, Canada), Bachelor of Politics and Administration (UZ).
Gender Equality Area of Interest/Expertise
Gender Equality in Leadership and Decision Making.
Career summary
A Senior Career Civil Servant who worked for the Government of Zimbabwe for 33 years. The Chairperson served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministries of Environment and Tourism; and Hospitality Industry for over a decade. She is a former Chair of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (Cancun, 2010). She is also a seasoned negotiator on international agreements and participated in the negotiations of the Rio Declaration and Agenda 21, the Climate Change Convention and its Kyoto Protocol, the Biodiversity and the Desertification Conventions. She has served on the Board of Biotechnology Zimbabwe. She currently sits on the Boards for the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe; and Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe.
Education Gender Equality Area of Interest/Expertise Career summary Commissioner Obert Matshalaga has worked as a High School Teacher and spent two decades as a Senior Civil Servant in the Ministry of Finance. The Commissioner joined politics and became a Member of Parliament and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Thereafter, he was the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs. He Chairs the Commission’s Legal and Investigations and Finance and Human Resources Committees. In addition, he also Chairs the Thematic Working Group on Gender, Politics and Decision Making.Obert Matshalaga
He is a holder of Masters’ Degree in International and Public Affairs (University of Pittsburgh, USA), Diploma in Economics (University of Colorado-Economic Institute) and BA General (University of Rhodesia).
Engendering the Fiscal and Public Policy Process. Monitoring the gender gap with regards to political and economic participation of men, women, girls and boys and Governance issues. He wishes to see Zimbabwe conclusively address all issues of gender discrimination and attaining the 50/50 gender parity in the shortest possible time frame.
Naome Chimbetete
Education
She is a holder of MA in Development Studies (WUA), MSc in Environmental Policy and Planning (UZ), Certificate in Environmental Impact Assessment and Management EIAM (Aberdeen, Scotland), Graduate Certificate in Education (UZ) and BA (Hons) in Geography (UZ).
Gender Equality Area of Interest/Expertise
The Commissioner has a keen interest in and technical expertise around Gender Responsive Budgeting, Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Programming, Gender Analysis, Training and Mainstreaming.
Career summary
Commissioner Naome Chimbetete has worked in different positions in Government, Donor agencies, NGOs and academic institutions. She has a distinguished career in Development and Grant Fund Management.
She Chairs the Commission’s Public Education and Information Committee and the Thematic Working Group on Gender, Environment and Climate Change. She is also a member of the Research and Programming and the Legal and Investigations Committees.
Tsungirirai K. Hungwe-Chimbunde
Education
She is a holder of BSc Reproductive Health and Family Science (WUA), State Registered Nurse (SRN), State Certified Midwife (SCM), Diploma in Nursing Administration (Dip. in NA), Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety (OCS), and Family Planning Certificate.
Gender Equality Area of Interest/Expertise
Sexual and Reproductive Health, Political participation of Women and Education of the Girl Child.
Career summary
Commissioner T. K. Hungwe-Chimbunde is a former Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Political Affairs (Responsible for Women’s Affairs), Deputy Minister of Health and Child Welfare, and former Minister of State in the Vice President’s Office. She is also a former Board Member of the Zimbabwe Family Planning Council (ZNFPC).
She Chairs the Thematic Working Group on Gender and Health. She is also a member of the Finance and Human Resources Committee.
Education Gender Equality Area of Interest/Expertise Career summary He Chairs the Commission’s Audit Committee and Co-Chairs the Thematic Working Group on Gender, Socio, Cultural and Religious Issues. He is also a member of the Public Education and Information Committee. Peter Mawonera (Chief Chikwizo)
He is a holder of Accounting Diploma and Certificate in Government Accounting.
Local governance, tradition and culture, Gender-Based Violence and Finance.
Commissioner Chief Chikwizo is an Accounting Specialist with the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals’ Finance Department for the past 28 years. As substantive Chief of the Chikwizo area in Mudzi since 2006, he has presided over the Chiefs’ Court on cases that include gender-based violence and inheritance. As an Ex-Officio member of Mudzi Rural District Council, Chief Chikwizo has used that platform to highlight the plight of the local community on gender related issues.
Education Gender Equality Area of Interest/Expertise Career summary She Co-Chairs the Commission’s Thematic Working Group on Gender, Socio, Cultural and Religious Issues. She is also a member of the Public Education and Information, Audit and Finance and Human Resources Committees. Sibongile Mauye
She is a holder of MA in Gender and Development with distinction (UK), Dip in Managing Development (UK), Certificate in Gender and Organizational Change (Netherlands) and BA Hons in Economic History (UZ).
Gender Based Violence; Constitutional and Legal Rights; Politics and Decision making.
Commissioner Sibongile Mauye’s experience and exposure spans three economic regions of Latin America, West Africa, East and Central Africa in Water and Sanitation, Education, Gender Based Violence, HIV and AIDS. She worked with the Youth Commonwealth Centre on enterprise development and youth reproductive health. She was also Technical Advisor to the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission of Zambia. She is a University Lecturer in Gender, Development Studies, Culture and Society.
Dr. Nyepudzai M. Nyangulu
Education
She is a holder of a Doctorate (PhD) in Organisational Science and Management Learning (Lancaster University, UK), Masters in Business Administration (MBA), University of Zimbabwe, Masters in Manpower Studies (University of Westminister, UK), several Diplomas and Certificates in Project Management, General Management and Gender Studies.
Gender Equality Area of Interest/Expertise
Women’s Economic Empowerment and Gender Equality in Decision-making.
Career summary
Commissioner Dr. Nyepudzai M. Nyangulu is the immediate past Head of Business Development at TN Financial Holdings. She has an illustrious senior civil service career including serving as a Deputy Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet. She has been actively involved in women’s empowerment programmes through supporting women’s groups as well as pioneering the setting up of initiatives to support women in management and leadership in the private sector and the girl child.
She Chairs the Commission’s Research and Programming Committee and the Thematic Working Group Gender and Economic Empowerment. She is also a member of the Legal and Investigations and Finance and Audit Committees
