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Herald Reporter

President Mnangagwa yesterday condoled with the family of industrial scientist and former Presidential advisor, Professor Robson Mafoti, who died on November 8.

Addressing mourners at the Mafoti family home in Harare yesterday evening, the President announced that Prof Mafoti had been accorded a State-assisted funeral.

President Mnangagwa said: “I am very saddened by his passing on. He was an asset in the system of governance of the country and has left a void that will be difficult to fill.” 

The former Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre (SIRDC) chief executive died at the age of 74 in India where he was receiving treatment for cancer.

President Mnangagwa was accompanied by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, top Government officials, and Service Chiefs in personally expressing condolences to Prof Mafoti’s widow, Mrs Ann Ntsoati-Mafoti, and the entire Mafoti family.

In a statement earlier this week, the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Martin Rushwaya said: “It is with deep sense of sorrow and shock that His Excellency, President ED Mnangagwa; Vice Presidents; Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet; Deputy Chief Secretaries; Senior Officers and the rest of the staff in the Office of the President and Cabinet join the Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre (SIRDC); Mrs Ann Ntsoati-Mafoti; and the entire Mafoti family in mourning the top chemist and researcher, Professor Robson Mafoti following his untimely death on 8th November, 2023.

“The late Professor Mafoti was instrumental at the Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre where he championed new engineering techniques including reverse engineering and domesticated lessons learnt from South Korea and other countries for the benefit of the local industry. 

“He only retired into farming from SIRDC in June this year leaving a track record of high commitment to scientific and technological advancement of Zimbabwe. 

“Indeed, the late Professor Mafoti was a renowned scholar and a holder of more than one hundred (100) local and international patents. He also helped in the setting up of an Inter-Ministerial Committee to foster synergies between research and industry among other initiatives.”

Professor Mafoti was instrumental in the establishment of the Food and Nutrition Council of Zimbabwe and has been described by academic peers as a great scientist, mentor and leader who was committed to scientific and technological advancement of Zimbabwe.

Prof Mafoti’s global work experience covered research and development, patenting, intellectual property licensing, manufacturing and commercialisation of research outcomes.

He was a member of various boards that included Industrial Development Corporation, Zimbabwe Council of Higher Education, Chinhoyi University of Technology where he was chairperson of council among others.

In June 2019, President Mnangagwa appointed him to the 26 member Presidential Advisory Council (PAC).

Prof Mafoti was a recipient of the Robert Mugabe Commendation Award for service in Human Capital Development which was bestowed on him for outstanding leadership for transformative service in human capital development.

He was a holder of 48 patents issued by the United States patent office and several others issued by the European Union, Japanese, Mexican and Brazilian patent offices.

He won international recognition for his administrative prowess and held several roles with various local, regional and international bodies.

He was born in Hwedza on June 11, 1949.