President calls for local solutions 

Source: President calls for local solutions – herald

Zvamaida Murwira, zwamaida.murwira@zimpapers.co.zw

THE ongoing knowledge-driven revolution must create local solutions to address gaps in the various sectors of the economy through specialisation, which remains a critical tool in the country’s modernisation and industrialisation agenda, President Mnangagwa has said.

He said this yesterday while addressing mourners at the burial of national hero, Major-General (Retired) Richard Ruwodo, at the National Heroes’ Acre.

The President also paid his condolences to Zimbabwe’s pioneering anaesthetist, Professor Herbert Chinyanga, as a towering figure in the country’s national development both before and after independence.
Prof Chinyanga died on July 2 in South Africa.

He will be cremated in that country in compliance with his wishes.
In his eulogy, President Mnangagwa said the country’s two gallant sons of the soil, Maj-Gen (Rtd) Ruwodo and Prof Chinyanga, provided a rich repository of service, from which the nation will learn about national sacrifice, professionalism, hard work and love for their motherland.

“I call upon all Zimbabweans across all fields of specialisations, in both the private and public sectors, to emulate their exemplary service,” he said.

“Intellectuals are challenged to turn ideas, scientific thought and practice into tangible products and services that transform the lives of our people. Similarly, the ongoing knowledge-driven revolution under the Second Republic must see us create local solutions to address gaps in the various sectors of the economy.”

President Mnangagwa said under the Second Republic, all areas of specialisation, fields of work and professions remain critical assets and tools at the nation’s disposal that must be appropriately organised for building, modernising and industrialising the nation.

“Through our own collective efforts, the future of our country is bright and Vision 2030 is becoming a reality for the prosperity of all our peoples. This was the desire of our Founding Fathers, along with many of our forebears, freedom fighters, as well as heroes and heroines of the armed liberation struggle,” he said.

“Let us all play our part to keep the flames of independence, freedom, sovereignty, development and prosperity burning brighter and brighter.”

The President said Government will enhance initiatives to improve the quality of ordinary persons.
He added that on its part, the Second Republic will accelerate the implementation of people-centred decisions and resolutions, focused on lifting many out of poverty into a better quality of life.

President Mnangagwa said it was sad that the nation continued to lose the stalwart generation of devoted freedom fighters like Maj-Gen (Rtd)Ruwodo.

However, he said the country remained grateful for the role they played.
“We are emboldened by the new crop of young heroes and heroines who are emerging and taking up the mantle to carry forward the ideals of the liberation struggle as we build our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe,” said President Mnangagwa.

“As we do so, we shall jealously defend, protect and promote our collective national interests and the rich values bequeathed to us by our forebears as well as heroes and heroines, such as the late national hero, Retired Major General Ruwodo.”

Born on March 14, 1954, in Mutasa, Manicaland Province, Maj-Gen (Rtd)Ruwodo went to Mutasa School for his primary education before proceeding to Highfield Secondary in Harare, between 1969 and 1972.

On completion, he got employment as a salesman at Bata Shoe Company in 1973, where he was elevated to a managerial post in recognition of his hard work and leadership qualities.

He gave up his comfort and career prospects in industry to join the liberation struggle in 1975 as a Zanla cadre.
Maj-Gen (Rtd) Ruwodo received military training at Chimoio in Mozambique before deployment to the party headquarters in Maputo as director of finance, working under the late national hero, Cde Ernest Kadungure.

At independence in 1980, the late general officer held various portfolios that contributed to building professionalism within the Zimbabwe National Army.

He began at the level of Deputy Chief Paymaster, later to be appointed as the first black Director of Zimbabwe National Army Pay and Records.

Maj-Gen (Rtd) Ruwodo was awarded the Liberation Medal, Liberation Decoration Silver Medal, Independence Medal, Ten Years’ Service Medal, Long and Exemplary Service Medal, Mozambique Campaign Medal and the Grand Officer of the Zimbabwe Order of Merit Award.

On retirement in 2008, Maj-Gen Ruwodo was appointed Principal Director responsible for War Veterans in the then Ministry of Defence and War Veterans Affairs.

Turning to Prof Chinyanga, President Mnangagwa described his life history as an epitaph of patriotism and integrity.
“He was a towering national and pioneering physician whose lifelong service helped to transform the specialisation of anaesthesia, advanced medical education and strengthened Zimbabwe’s healthcare system,” he said.

Born on July 26, 1939, in the then Gwelo, now Gweru, Prof Chinyanga got his primary education at Daramombe Mission between 1946 and 1952, before proceeding to Goromonzi Government School between 1953 and 1957.

He enrolled at the then University of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, now the University of Zimbabwe, to study Physics, Chemistry and Zoology, where he earned a prestigious World Health Organisation Scholarship in 1960 to study medicine at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, where he obtained a Master of Science in Physiology and a Doctor of Medicine.
He briefly worked in Ghana as a lecturer.

In 1973, he moved to Canada and trained as a specialist in anaesthesia and intensive care.
He later qualified as a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada in 1978, later completing further fellowship training in pain management.

He joined the University of Toronto and the internationally acclaimed Hospital for Sick Children, where he earned international recognition as an accomplished clinician, researcher and educator.

After Independence, he showed patriotism by returning to work at home.
In 1986, Prof Chinyanga established Zimbabwe’s first postgraduate programmes for the Diploma and Master of Medicine in Anaesthetics at the University of Zimbabwe.

He served as Chairman of the Department of Anaesthetics and later as Acting Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences.

Prof Chinyanga also helped in establishing the School of Medicine at the National University of Science and Technology as well as the School of Medicine at Midlands State University.

At one point, Prof Chinyanga served as president of the Zimbabwe Anaesthetic Association as well as Chairman and Editor of the Central African Journal of Medicine and member of the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists.

He was a member of the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe and the Research Council of Zimbabwe.
In 2025, the Zimbabwe Anaesthetic Association honoured him as the Father of Anaesthesia in the country.
He retired from active service in December 2024.