By Anyway Yotamu
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed Air Commodore Jasper Chimedza as the new Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care. The vacancy came after the former Secretary Dr. Agnes Mahomva was re-assigned to the Chief Coordinator for COVID-19 in the Office of the President and Cabinet.
In a statement to the media, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr. Misheck Sibanda said, “President Mnangagwa in terms of paragraph 205 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment number (20) of 2013 approved the appointment of Air Commodore Jasper Chimedza as the permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care. Jasper Chimedza is a medical doctor by profession who studied Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery Degrees at the University of Zimbabwe before his attestation into the Air Force of Zimbabwe in 1996,” said Dr. Sibanda.
On completion of Basic Officer’s Military Course at Buffalo Range in Chiredzi, he was promoted to the rank of Flight Lieutenant and posted to Thornhill Air Force Base in Chegutu as Medical Officer. In 1998, Air Commodore Chimedza was promoted to the Rank of Squadron Leader and posted to Manyame Air Force Base in Harare as Senior Medical Officer. Thereafter, he was appointed Director of Medical Services at the Air Force Headquarters and promoted to the Rank of Wing Commander.
Before his appointment as the Health Permanent Secretary, he was the Director General Health Services at the Zimbabwe Defense Forces Headquarters holding the Rank of Air Commodore since 2010.
“Air Commodore Chimedza with his experience in the health field is expected to turn around the Health ministry, in particular, the health services sector in general, to refocus the nation’s health sector in order to enhance innovation, integrity, transparency, efficiency and vibrant stakeholder participation as the country fights the war against the COVID-19 pandemic’, said Dr. Sibanda.