FULL TEXT: Top Airforce Officer Appointed Health Ministry Permanent Secretary

STATEMENT BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY TO THE PRESIDENT AND CABINET, DR M J M SIBANDA ON THE APPOINTMENT OF AIR COMMODORE JASPER CHIMEDZA AS PERMANENT SECRETARY FOR THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE, 3RD AUGUST, 2020

His Excellency the President, Cde E.D. Mnangagwa, has, in terms of Section 205 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 20) Act 2013, approved the appointment of Air Commodore Jasper Chimedza as Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Health and Child Care.

A medical doctor by profession, Air Commodore Chimedza studied Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery Degrees at the University of Zimbabwe before his attestation into the Air Force of Zimbabwe in January 1996.

On completion of Basic Officers’ Military Course at Buffalo Range in Chiredzi, he was promoted to the Rank of Flight Lieutenant and posted to Thornhill Air Force Base as Medical Officer.

In 1988, Air Commodore Chimedza was promoted to the Rank of Squadron Leader and posted to Manyame Air Force Base as Senior Medical Officer.

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Thereafter, he was appointed Director Medical Service at Air Force Headquarters and promoted to the Rank of Wing Commander.

Currently, he is the Director General Health Services at Zimbabwe Defence Forces Headquarters holding the Rank of Air Commodore, a position he has held since 2010.

Dr Chimedza brings with him a wealth of experience to the Ministry of Health and Child Care in particular and the health services sector in general where he is expected to refocus the nation’s health delivery services in order to enhance innovation, integrity, transparency, efficiency and vibrant stakeholder participation as the country fights the war against the COVID-19 pandemic.

His appointment is with immediate effect.

Dr Misheck J M Sibanda
CHIEF SECRETARY TO THE PRESIDENT AND CABINET
ZIMBABWE

03 August 2020

Meanwhile, George Charamba, who is the Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet (Presidential Communications), has apologised for the error dates in the statement.

The statement said Jasper Chimedza was attested into the Air Force of Zimbabwe in January 1996 and in 1988, he was promoted to the Rank of Squadron Leader. In fact, 1988 and should be “1998″. In a post on Twitter, Charamba said:

ALERT! ALERT!! The Press Statement on today’s appointment by the President of a new Secretary for Health has error dates. I have asked my Office to correct the anomaly. My apologies to the Appointing Authority, the Chief Secretary, the new Health Secretary and all readers.