The Zimbabwe National Institute of Rock Engineering (ZINIRE) has elected Freddy Chikwiri as its new Vice President. The election, conducted by the institute’s full council, formally designates Chikwiri as the President-in-waiting, slated to assume the top office in two years, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
The decision concludes a period of strategic restructuring following the recent transition that saw Mr. Omberai Mandingaisa elevated from Vice President to President. The council also filled other critical executive positions, electing Mr. Adias Mudzovaniswa as Treasurer and Mr. Ambition Mubvumbi as Secretary-General.
The election of the Vice President is a cornerstone of ZINIRE’s governance, explicitly designed to ensure stability and continuity. In his new role, Chikwiri will work directly under the guidance of President Omberai Mandingaisa, gaining invaluable experience and institutional knowledge to prepare him for the future leadership of the institute.
President Mandingaisa welcomed the newly elected executive, emphasising the importance of a unified team. “I am pleased to welcome Freddy, Adias, and Ambition to their new roles on the executive. This team represents a blend of experience and fresh impetus that is crucial for driving ZINIRE’s mandate forward. Our structured succession plan ensures that our strategic goals for enhancing mine safety and rock engineering standards remain uninterrupted,” Mandingaisa stated.
The newly elected Vice President, Freddy Chikwiri, brings a wealth of experience to the role. His election is seen as an endorsement of his technical expertise and leadership capabilities within the rock engineering community.
“I am honoured by the trust placed in me by the council,” said Chikwiri. “My focus will be to understudy President Mandingaisa diligently and to collaborate closely with the entire executive to advance the critical work of ZINIRE. We have a clear mandate to reduce mining accidents and promote engineering excellence, and I am committed to contributing to that mission.”
The newly solidified executive team faces a formidable agenda. Top of the list is the ongoing battle against Fall of Ground (FoG) accidents, which account for nearly 60 per cent of mining-related injuries and fatalities in Zimbabwe. The institute is expected to intensify its efforts, particularly in the Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) sector, through the development of simple, compatible technologies and enhanced safety workshops.
With a clear succession path now established and a full executive committee in place, ZINIRE is poised to usher in a new era of focused leadership aimed at safeguarding the nation’s miners and strengthening the technical foundations of the mining industry.
