The Sunday News
Harare Bureau
THE late Permanent Secretary for the District Development Fund (DDF) in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Dr James Kenneth Jonga was a dedicated and highly committed civil servant, President Mnangagwa has said.
Dr Jonga died last Thursday after a short illness and President Mnangagwa has granted him a state-assisted funeral.
He was aged 70.
Speaking at the Jonga residence in Harare yesterday, President Mnangagwa said Dr Jonga was unwaveringly focused on development, as evidenced by the numerous projects that he had established and spearheaded.
“We therefore, mourn a towering professional with exemplary work conduct and was unflinchingly focused on fulfilling the development needs of the nation. A servant who was at the beck and call of our citizens, particularly in the rural areas, Dr Jonga was an avid performer with boundless energy and had a clear understanding of the country’s infrastructural development trajectory.
“He led and mentored his subordinates, who together with us all will no doubt be inspired to safeguard his legacy through diligently continuing with the programmes that he was passionately implementing in order to uplift livelihoods under NDS (National Development Strategy) 1 and Vision 2030 under the Second Republic. Our sincere condolences go to his wife, Mrs Mirriam Jonga, the children and grandchildren for losing a loving husband and father and guiding pillar of strength.”
President Mnangagwa also conveyed his condolences to the Cde Jonga family following the death of their family member Anne Knuth, who passed on after losing a battle with cancer early this month.
“May I also take this opportunity to convey my heartfelt condolences following the death of another member of your family and cousin to James Jonga, Mrs Anne Annastasia Knuth, a former Chief Director of State Occasions in my Office who passed on recently.”
Speaking at the same occasion, Vice-President Dr Constantino Chiwenga said he was deeply saddened and shocked by Dr Jonga’s death. “I was not aware of his illness and thought his absence was because of the decongestion of offices due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I had enlisted several developmental projects which needed his help and expertise and I was hoping to continue to work with him,” VP Chiwenga said.
Dr Jonga joined the DDF as an Assistant Director in 1987. He became the Deputy Director in 1989 when DDF merged with the Department of Rural Development (DERUDE) in 1995. He was appointed Principal Director, and subsequently the Director- General of DDF in 1998.
In 2014 he was appointed Permanent Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet in charge of DDF and Related Infrastructure Development, the post he held until his death. He was instrumental in the establishment of various developmental projects, such as establishment of the water division, which he superintended under the Rural Roads Programme. He also spearheaded the purchasing of drilling equipment as well the recapitalisation of the DDF’s plant and equipment unit.
Dr Jonga was also the chairman of the Rural Wash Programme and Deputy Chairperson of the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP 2) steering committee. Also, he was at the forefront of the Zunde ra Mambo/Isiphala SeNkosi programme and championed the “Lest we Forget Programme” for the late national heroes and heroines. Dr Jonga is survived by his wife Miriam and five children. He will be buried in Mhondoro on Tuesday.
