Harare (New Ziana)-The government has, with immediate effect, appointed hospitality and tourism expert Dr Emmanuel Fundira as the new National Social Security Authority (NSSA) board chairperson.
He takes over from Dr Percy Toriro who resigned in March this year before the end of his term.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Paul Mavima announced the appointment on Thursday.
Dr Fundira is the current chairperson of the African Sun Hotels and Resorts, former chair of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and Allied Timbers Zimbabwe Holdings as well as former president of the Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe (TBCZ) and Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe (SOAZ).
Mavima said the appointment followed wide consultations as well as consideration of Dr Fundira’s qualifications and experience in relation to the work that NSSA does.
“Dr Fundira’s leadership credentials and experience in leading both private and public sector institutions at both executive and board level is perfect fit for NSSA, an entity that has a huge responsibility of ensuring sustainable social security for all as is our aspiration of an upper middle income economy by 2030,” he said.
“It is my hope and expectation that through the leadership of Dr Fundira the NSSA board will make sound decisions to ensure the well-being of NSSA beneficiaries and contribute to the socio-economic development of Zimbabwe through good investment decisions.”
Mavima said the appointment of Dr Fundira came at a time when NSSA was expected to continue to develop and implement an all-encompassing framework and bringing those in the informal sector under the social protection umbrella.
“As the nation is already working on a formalisation policy, NSSA should without delay increase resourcing and funding for an informal sector scheme development which is informed by a needs assessment survey.
“The scheme design and costing should be informed by studies of other informal sector schemes in the region and globally.”
He the appointment of Dr Fundira was also coming as the nation awaited the outcome of the recently conducted forensic audit of NSSA and as such his work would be cut out as the board and management would be working to address its findings.
In his appreciation speech, Dr Fundira expressed gratitude for the honour bestowed on him, noting that the responsibility was not for the faint of hearted.
“Im eternally grateful for the honour you have bestowed upon me in terms of giving me this honourous responsibility. Its not a responsibility for the faint hearted, it is something which when you look at the general scoping from outside its not an easy task but its a task which I am determined to do and to carry out together with the assistance of the people who are already holding the organisation as it stands.
“I am a straight shooter and believe me I will not be able to tolerate anything which is different from what we are pronouncing as an organisation. It will be just honourable for a leader to say no I have failed this is my time to part ways.”
Dr Fundira said one of his priorities would be to address the negative perception of NSSA which he said was at its lowest from both the public and private sector.
New Ziana
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