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Mr Mudede

Felex Share and Talent Gore
Renowned civil servants and politicians yesterday said bestowing the national hero status on former Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Charles Utete was befitting as it vindicated the importance of hard work, purposefulness and determination.

In their touching exaltations at the burial of Dr Utete at the National Heroes’ Acre in Harare yesterday, former and serving top civil servants said Zimbabweans had been “orphaned” by his death.

Dr Utete (77), who died last Friday in Harare, is famed for structuring the country’s civil service in the process dismantling the colonial system.

The Registrar-General Mr Tobaiwa Mudede who was groomed by Dr Utete, said in his illustrious civil service career, the late national hero only believed in serving the masses.

“He taught us what it means to work for the people,” he said.

“We appreciate Government for according him such a befitting status. A hero is seen in many ways. He was humble and you would never think he was a doctor. He was educated and had the wisdom. He did not segregate.

“We were his foot soldiers in the civil service and sometimes when we thought of quitting, he was there to encourage. The language he understood was working for the people and us the living should be able to pass that knowledge to the young generation. This man was experienced and as they say, you cannot buy experience meaning, we will miss him greatly.”

The highly respected mandarin served as secretary to then Prime Minister Mugabe and as Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet from 1981 to 2003.

Civil Service Commission deputy chairperson Ambassador Mary Margaret Muchada, who worked with Dr Utete between 1985-93, said his ability to offer an ear to everyone, saw him making informed decisions.

“All the accolades that the various speakers have tried to put together do not sum what he really was,” she said.

“The man was just down to earth and he would listen to any view no matter how junior one was. I was heading the Policy and Research department during his time. Before he took any decision on any issue, we would confer.

“I knew I was very junior to him, but he would want to know what my view, analysis, research on the ground had brought to the fore regarding to the issue. He was a man who made decisions on the basis of an informed base.

“Most of us just take decisions because we are senior, but he would use the body of knowledge of a particular issue before making a recommendation to the President.”

Said Lands and Rural Resettlement secretary Ambassador Grace Mutandiro: “I worked with him during his last six years in Government when I was a director in his office. He used to call me special assistant. Dr Utete was extremely intelligent, unassuming, loyal, diligent and hardworking. He was my mentor.

“On the honour accorded to him to come here (National Heroes Acre), it could not have been any other way in my view. This is the best that Zimbabwe can do to honour the great son in him. I recall, when we held his farewell when he retired, President Mugabe saying I feel deserted like an orphan, a statement that showed that Dr Utete was a pillar to him.”

Former Masvingo provincial Governor Cde Willard Chiwewe, said after working with Dr Utete for six years, he deduced that the man was multi-talented.

“I worked with him directly from 1981-87 and I was surprised at how one could be a scientist, educationist, historian, politician, geographer and farmer at once. All these qualities were embedded in his character and behaviour.

“He used his multi-faceted talents to help Government to start a new system after Independence. He didn’t believe in offering lessons, but in doing work together. We would work on the President’s speeches, but the actual writer was Dr Utete and I would only do the drafts.”

Permanent secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet Ambassador Stuart Comberbach summed it up.

“He is someone I respected immensely and when I was appointed secretary for Industry and Trade, he was a kind of mentor as he guided me a lot, providing me with lot of advice.

“It was the first time I headed a ministry and I found him to be approachable and open. He helped me a lot as an individual to grow as an administrator. He will be sadly missed within the Government.”

Dr Utete is survived by wife Verna and five children.