Zimbabwe has lost one of its most eminent energy architects, Dr Sydney Gata, the long-serving Executive Chairperson of ZESA Holdings, who passed away on Thursday night at the age of 79 after a short illness.
Dr Gata’s death marks the end of an era in Zimbabwe’s power and infrastructure development journey. A man widely respected across the region and globally for his deep expertise in energy systems, Dr Gata leaves behind a rich legacy of leadership, innovation, and unwavering service to the nation.
In a statement confirming the sad news, ZESA’s Stakeholders Relations Department paid tribute to Dr Gata’s lifelong commitment to advancing Zimbabwe’s energy landscape. “He dedicated his life to building energy solutions and strengthening infrastructure that sustains our communities and our industries,” read part of the statement.
Dr Gata made history in 1981 when he became the first black General Manager of the Electricity Supply Commission (ESC), a key milestone in the post-independence transformation of Zimbabwe’s critical institutions. He went on to serve as CEO and board member of ZESA from the mid-1980s into the early 1990s, during a period of extensive national electrification and infrastructure expansion.
His contributions stretched beyond national borders. From 1992 to 1994, he served as a Board Member of the World Energy Council (WEC), where he was also Deputy Chairperson of the Studies Committee, a testament to his global reputation in energy policy and strategy. He also lent his expertise to the African Development Bank and Integrated Energy Systems Limited (UK) in advisory and board roles.
Dr Gata’s return to ZESA as Executive Chairperson in 2001 and again in 2019 underscored the trust placed in him to lead in times of crisis and transition. Under his stewardship, ZESA pushed for the revival of thermal and hydroelectric stations, the restructuring of power utility subsidiaries, and re-engagement with regional power pools.
While he often faced criticism amid the country’s enduring power challenges, Dr Gata remained a steadfast advocate of reform, repeatedly calling for long-term investment in Zimbabwe’s energy systems, skills development, and the adoption of new technologies.
His passing comes at a time when Zimbabwe’s power utility is undergoing strategic shifts, a moment that makes his institutional knowledge and legacy even more pronounced.
Beyond the boardroom, Dr Gata was known as a family man. He is survived by his wife, Honourable Angeline Gata, who currently serves as Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, as well as his children and grandchildren.
As the nation mourns, Dr Sydney Gata will be remembered not only as a power engineer and technocrat, but as a nation builder whose professional life was lit by the conviction that access to electricity was not a privilege, but a right, a catalyst for development.
Plans for his funeral and memorial service will be announced in due course.
May His Soul Rest in Power.
