Harare – Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Saturday declared the late ZESA chairman Sydney Gata a national hero.
”Please be advised that the late Dr S Gata has been declared a national hero.Mourners are gathered at 333 Fairway Road Borrowdale Brooke,Harare. Burial arrangements will be announced in due course,” a notice from the Information Ministry said.
Gata was married to Angeline Mayahle Gata, Zimbabwe’s deputy minister of Primary and Secondary education.
Mnangagwa reportedly sired children with Angeline’s sister. He has never disputed the issue which was posted by exiled former Information Minister Jonathan Moyo.
The national hero status has been reserved for war veterans for years but of late non-war veterans have been awarded the status by Mnangagwa’s regime for political mileage.
Gata died this week aged 78. He was the first black General Manager of ZESA then known as Electricity Supply Commission from 1981-1985.
Gata served as ZESA chief executive officer from the mid-1980s to early 1990s.
Gata was mechanical and aeronautical engineer.
He was married to the late former president Robert Mugabe’s half sister, Ntombana Regina Mugabe for 35 years after which they divorced in 2022.
The divorce in 2022 came conveniently after the death of the feared Robert Mugabe who was removed from power in a coup in November 2017.
Gata served at ZESA chairman twice, during the Mugabe era and was appointed by current President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Gata endeared himself to Mnangagwa.
Through his marriage to Regina, Gata received preferential treatment to get appointment to lucrative positions.
He mixed and mingled with powerful politicians making friends with Zimbabwe’s black aristocracy.
Gata was powerful, in 2020 Energy Minister Fortune Chasi was fired by Mnangagwa after the minister had tried to have Gata tow the line.
Before his divorce to Regina Mugabe Gata married Angeline Mayahle.