Hilda Suka-Mafudze CV

Hilda Suka-Mafudze is a motivated and focused political economist with a proven fifteen years of hands-on experience in politics and public service, working with civil society to influence and advance economic and social well-being, including gender mainstreaming seeking an entry-level in the United Nations. She has extensive experience and expertise in working with individuals of different backgrounds in all genders, educational and political persuasions dealing with development issues, and implementing projects and programs aimed at improving the quality of life in rural communities’ especially marginalized groups. She holds B. Sc. degree (with Honours) in Sociology and Gender Development from the Women’s University in Africa (in Zimbabwe) and a professional Diploma in Interaction Leadership from the British Council. She is currently finalizing her Masters of Arts (MA) degree in International Relations and the World Order from the University of Leicester, UK.

 

Over the past fifteen years, Hilda has amassed a wealth of experience and expertise in dealing with international elections, including election observation, co-ordination, monitoring, and managing national elections in a host of African countries. She has volunteered and successfully managed the 2008 Zimbabwe general Elections on behalf of the Opposition Party that is the Movement for Democratic Change (MDCt). With the experience of working honesty, integrity applied, ethics, in a fair and balanced way, I was able to achieve what was expected by the party. In addition, elections call for confidentiality, adhering to formal standards, I carried this out as election head of the MDC election candidates. The election involved all aspiring candidates namely: presidential candidate, mayors, governors, members of parliament and councillors. It was a challenging time and controversial process that required dependability and reliability. In position of all mentioned professional skills, she managed the whole process the Coordinator & Election Facilitator of the overall electoral team. That immensely benefited MDC party.

 

Her experience also spans a wide range of issues, with extensive knowledge in leadership skills, human rights issues, peace building and social issues including gender mainstreaming. She has successfully held several high profiles in politics and other public service positions in Zimbabwe. These include 5 years as a Member of Parliament in Zimbabwe, elected to represent Mhondoro Rural Constituency. While in parliament she also saved in the position of Shadow Minister Environment and tourism and Shadow Minister Transport and communications respectively.

Hilda also served as Executive Director of Community Development and Participation Trust (CODEP) in Zimbabwe for 4 years, a civil society organization that she founded to ensure inclusion of the interests of marginalized rural communities in government policies and programs.

Hilda currently serves as Ambassador of Zimbabwe to Sudan, a position she has held since 2009. Her responsibility in this position also covered pre-independent South Sudan, and she thus contributed significantly to the international political efforts that led to South Sudan’s referendum and subsequent secession in 2011. In addition, she also effectively led the political dialogue, negotiations and networking efforts that led to the successful establishment of diplomatic relations Zimbabwe and South Sudan, and the opening of a Zimbabwe Embassy in Juba.

PERSONAL DETAILS
Family Name	Suka-Mafudze
First Name	Hilda
Date of Birth	22 September 1960
Nationality	Zimbabwe
Marital Status	Married with 4 children.
Mailing Address	Zimbabwe Embassy in Khartoum, Alslam Street, P.O. Box 8180, Khartoum, Sudan. Cell: +249- 964232715; +249-922228914 E-mail:hsukamafudze@yahoo.com; hildasuka808@gmail.com

 

ACADEMIC EDUCATION

2013:      Masters of Arts (MA) in International Relations and the World Order
(forthcoming); University of Leicester, UK): Dissertation stage. (with specialization in Post-Cold War World Order; Human Rights; Politics of human rights; Strategy in the Modern World).

2002:      B. Sc. Degree (with Honours), in Sociology and Gender Development; Women’s University in Africa, Harare, Zimbabwe.

2006:      Diploma, in InterAction Leadership, British Council Zimbabwe.

 

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

2009:      Diplomatic Course, Zimbabwe Ministry of Foreign Affairs Diplomatic (Certificate conferred)

2009:      High Level Diplomatic Course certificate Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic;

2009:      Strategic Seed Business and Marketing Management The World Vegetable Centre (AVRDC);

2007:      Anti-Corruption Course for African Members of Parliament and Members of Civil Society Organization. Eastern and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI) and African Parliament Network against Corruption (Certificate conferred; 23-27 April 2007);

2004:      Civilian Peacekeeping & Peace-Building Course: Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Response Specialization. African Centre For The constructive Resolution of Disputes. (ACCORD)

2004:         Peacemakers Leading in Conflict. The Center for Conflict Resolution, Cape Town, 9-12 March 2004

2004:      Personal Empowerment Training, Women in Politics Support Unit. Certificate conferred; 22-28 July, 2004.

2003:      Basic Mediation Skills, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Nyanga Zimbabwe. Certificate conferred 12-16 May 2003.

2003:      Skills for Conflict Transformation, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Kariba Zimbabwe. Certificate conferred 14-18 July 2003.

2003:      Parliamentary consultative Review, certificate Public Affairs and Parliamentary Support Trust (PAPST). 4 November 2003.

1998:     Diploma in Business Leadership, Zimbabwe Institute of Management.

1994:     How to Start and Run a successful Business, Fountain Management Consultants. Certificate conferred 17-21 October 1994.

 

Summary of Positions Held

 

2010- now	Ambassador, Zimbabwe Embassy, Khartoum Sudan
2007-2009	Executive Director, Community Development and   participation Trust
2000- 2005	Member of Parliament, Zimbabwe Parliament. Shadow Minister Environment and tourism Shadow Minister Transport and communications
1997-2002	Operations Manager Nesmak Investments Horticulture Dept
1990-1997	Marketing Manager, Nesmak Enterprises.
1987-1990	Sales Manager, Mermaids Cosmetics
1985-1987	Training Manager, Vaida Chemical Company
1982-1985	Debtors Clerk, Vaida Chemical Company

 

PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE

2009-Present: Ambassador, of Zimbabwe in Sudan. In this position, I represent the government of Zimbabwe in the Republic of Sudan, with the goal of promoting good political, economic and social relations between the two countries. My responsibilities include engaging the Government of Sudan and promoting inter-governmental political relations and consultations, and nurturing and fostering regional cooperation, integration and peace. My task also includes promoting trade relations to enhance new trade and economic cooperation Sudan with Zimbabwe, soliciting for potential investors and tourism opportunities, and facilitating exchange in science, technology and cultural values and experience.

 

My responsibility in this position also covered pre-independent South Sudan, and my work thus contributed significantly to the international political efforts

that led to South Sudan’s referendum and subsequent secession in 2011. I also effectively undertook the political dialogue, negotiations and networking efforts that led to the successful establishment of diplomatic relations between for Zimbabwe and South Sudan, and the opening of a Zimbabwean Consulate in Juba. My role also involves working with international institutions and the diplomatic community to strengthen country’s position in the international scene, as well as reaching out to Zimbabweans living in Sudan.

 

2006-2009: Executive Director, Community Development and Participation Trust (CODEP). As Executive Director of CODEP, I was responsible for the day-to-day running of the organization, which included supervising the technical professional staff in interacting with government, civil society and private sector to ensure that civil society needs are articulated and streamlined in public policies and programs. This included the organization of strategic meetings and workshops, and sensitizing and organizing civil society groups, as well as consultations and capacity building of rural and marginalized groups to articulate their own problems and needs. I was thus heading a team that had the responsibility to convoke and review the status of rural agriculture, identify problems and find solutions towards household and national food security.

 

My activities of CODEP were largely focused on bringing the various stakeholders in the agricultural sector together, and organizing them to engage collectively and more constructively with government and development organizations, and helping them to address their own needs, especially annual food needs. The key focus was on potential commercial farmers who were growing only cash crops to help them generate additional incomes for improving their livelihoods. It was quite a challenging period considering farming issues were a sensitive subject given the socio-political climate prevailing in Zimbabwe at that time. CODEP in association with Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union (ZFU) and support from the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) worked towards and achieved a Comprehensive and strategic Program for Rural Agricultural Recovery, among others.

 

2000-2005: Member of Parliament, for Mhondoro Constituency in the Parliament of Zimbabwe. As a member of parliament, I was part of the Zimbabwe’s legislative council, whose primary responsibility is enacting the laws of Zimbabwe. As one of the few women parliamentarians, I was instrumental in ensuring that Zimbabwe’s laws are balanced and on board the views and interests of the poor and marginalized groups, such as women and children. I was an active member of the Zimbabwe Women’s Parliamentary Caucus with a special focus on Human Rights, Democracy and Election Observation, HIV/AIDS and gender mainstreaming issues.

 

As a member of parliament, I also served as an active member of four important parliament committees namely: i) Defence and Home Affairs Committee, ii) Transport and Communications Committee, iii) Gender Committee, Health Committee on HIV/AIDS. As parliamentary committee members, we advanced the debate in these four areas to ensure that the interest of the public, especially marginalized groups are reflected national laws that impact their lives. We also occasionally produced reports on challenges and articulate opportunities for advancing service delivery in each of these key areas.

 

Between 2000 and 2003, I was appointed Shadow Minister for Environment and Tourism where my role involved assisting the substantive Minister in developing policies for sustainable management of natural resources for the benefit of local communities in various parts of the country. I also initiated rural tourism awareness initiative which ensured that rural people benefited from the tourism proceeds. At the end of 2003, I further served as Shadow Minister of Transport and Communications, where I worked with and advised the Minister on various issues related to the management of national transport and communication systems. This advice led the introduction of urban train facilities in Harare and Bulawayo to ease urban transportation and reduce accidents.

 

Other Key Achievements as Member of Parliament (2000-2005), included the implementation of several Community Programs in Mhondoro Constituency, which include the

• Tinto secondary school;
• The construction of classroom blocks and rehabilitation of sanitary facilities at Gora Primary School;
• Supply school furniture at Masawi Secondary School.
• Articulated the concerns of the people of Mhondoro constituency in Parliament of Zimbabwe and other forums. Participated in debates to ensure the passage of development oriented, human rights, justice and democratic laws;
• Monitored the conduct and performance of various arms of government through the committee system to ensure proper use of public funds and curbing other corrupt manifestations;:
• The construction of the girls’ hostel at Rio on different forums in the country, region and abroad;
• Assisted in sourcing funds mainly from donors to carry out my constituency rural community based projects. I developed workshops in Mhondoro Constituency particularly on Human Rights education, HIV/AIDS and women empowerment.

 

2002-2004: Election Observer, Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Parliamentary Forum (PF). This position was held while I was serving as a member of parliament in Zimbabwe. My activities here entailed election observation, including monitoring and managing electoral processes and, more importantly, training electoral candidates and new aspirants. After taking an intensive regionally sponsored training course, I acquired extensive expertise in election observation, uniquely specializing in election and parliamentary issues. I have served as an official election observer in several national elections in the (SADC) region, under the auspices of Parliamentary Forum (PF), including Lesotho’s General Elections of 2002, as electoral monitor in Zimbabwe’s Presidential Elections in 2002, and as observation team leader in South Africa’s 2004 General Elections in Eastern Cape Province.

 

The valuable experience acquired in observing elections in Zimbabwe and Lesotho, was critical in my appointment as Observation Team Leader in South Africa’s by the SADC-PF, which was a competitive process. My work here entailed developing a mini-map of the Eastern Cape Province to give an electoral overview of the geographical span to be observed, assigning mini teams to cover the different polling stations, undertake relevant paper work to enhance transparency and witness and document the prevailing conditions at each polling station. This was done hand-in-hand with law enforcement officers and authorities on a daily basis to ensure a smooth running’s of the elections.

 

2008: Volunteered Coordinator and Election facilitator: I volunteered and successfully managed the March 2008 Zimbabwe General Election on behalf of the Opposition Party, i.e. the Movement of Democratic Party (MDC). I carried this out as coordinator and facilitator for the MDC party’s election candidates at various levels. This was a challenging and controversial process that I succeed in managing as part of the overall electoral team.

 

Experience as Resource Person in Conferences/Workshops

Between 2000 and 2005, I also served as a resource person and facilitated at various conferences and workshops, both in Zimbabwe and abroad, including the following:

• Women in Politics Support Unit (WIPSU): I facilitated at a Constituency Ward Based consultative workshops for human rights, empowerment and HIV/AIDS, May 2004.
• Women AIDS Support Network (WASN): I trained community Leaders on HIV/AIDS Intervention Measures June 2005.
• Fredrick Ebert Stiftung Foundation: I managed bring together Chiefs in my Constituency for a workshop on Community Leadership Roles for Chiefs and Headman, Councillors and village heads for Human, Rights Women Rights and HIV/AIDS Awareness September 2001. The workshop was also designed to define our roles as Mhondoro constituency leadership.
• Developed and trained TOT on the impact of HIV/AIDS: on food production in Rural Communities January 2002.
• Public Affairs Parliamentary Support Trust (PAPST). I conducted research on public institutions and programs in the constituency and follow up workshops, 2004.
• Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association (ZWLA). I conducted Ward-Based Workshops    on Human Rights and Inheritance laws in Zimbabwe, 2005.
• Christian Care. I worked with Christian Care in food aid distribution in Mhondoro, 2003.This was meant to ensure even distribution of grains across party lines.
• Zimbabwe Women Resource Center Network (ZWRCN). I conducted Women and HIV/AIDS women empowerment workshops in Mhondoro, 2001.
• United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Facilitated setting up and furnishing of constituent information centres in Mhondoro.

Conferences and Workshops Attended

Challenges of Election Management and Prospects for Election Reform in Zimbabwe 28-29 April, 2009. Elephant Hills Resort, Zimbabwe.

Overcoming Fear by Faith: Churches in Solidarity with People of Zimbabwe, 14-17 July 2008. WillowPark. Johannesburg, South Africa.

Achieving 2,000,000MT of Maize Production in 2008/09 Planting Season, Stakeholders Workshop,12 June 2008. Zimbabwe, CODEP, ZFU and FAO.

ZESN Stakeholders Conference on Elections and Democracy 5-16 March 2007 Victoria Falls Elephant Hills Hotel

Making Markets Matter. September 2007 Stellenbosch. South Africa.

Conference on Zimbabwe Electoral Issues. 15-16 March 2007 Center for Peace Initiative in Africa (CPIA).

National Conference on Governance in the Zimbabwean Context. 14-16th November 2006 Bulawayo Holiday Inn Zimbabwe.

Conference on National Reconciliation Process in Zimbabwe

21-23 September 2006. CPIA Leopard Rock Hotel Vumba Mountains.

Leadership Strategies. September 19, 2006 British Council.

Zimbabwe Convention July 29, 2006. Christian Alliance.

Election Reforms. Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) and EISA July 2005 Victoria Falls.

Election Observation, Conflict Prevention and Mediation held 26-28 February, 2004, Durban South Africa, SADC PF.

Conference on Electoral Reforms held on 26 June 2004 ZESN Victoria Falls.

Review Conference on Women in Politics and Decision Making, 8-10 December 2003, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Second Forum on Children held 25-28 August 2003 UNICEF and Parliament of

Zimbabwe.

Additional Empowerment Strategies (AES) Workshop for Parliamentarians, Johannesburg, South Africa, 28 November 2003

Women’s Conference on Strategies Parliamentary Representation. Harare, Zimbabwe 24 October 2003.

Gender Mainstreaming Training WIPSU in Collaboration with the Olof Palmer International Center Sweden May 2003.

Skills for Conflict Transformation, 14-18 July 2003, Kariba, Zimbabwe (Accord and UNDP)

Workshop on Electoral Processes in Zimbabwe Parliament of Zimbabwe 15 August 2002.

Gender Mainstreaming SADCPF/Parliament of Zimbabwe July 2002.

Election Observation Preparation and Training SADCPF 2002.

Promotion of Freedom of Expression on Human Rights through Legislative Action held 17-19 October 2002, Lusaka Zambia.

World Conference against Racism-NGO Forum. 28 August -1 September 2001, Durban, South Africa.

Fundraising Strategies. The Olof Palmer International Centre, August 2001Sweden

Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU), Havana, Cuba. April 2001

Constituency Relations Workshop held 23-27 May Public Affairs and Parliamentary Support Trust.

Women Rights in Leadership and Development at Women in Politics Support Unit (WiPSU) Seminar for Women Members of Parliaments 25 May 2005.

 

Conference Papers Presented

1.   Women’s Perspectives in Zimbabwe (2001). Paper Presented to the Inter Parliamentary Union in Cuba March 2001.

2.  Human Rights and HIV and Nutrition (2001). Paper Presented to the workshop on HIV and Gender Mainstreaming on Women’s Day in Mubayira, Mhondoro 2001.

3.   Lesotho General Elections: Lessons Learnt (2002). Paper presented to the Zimbabwe Electoral Support Network (ZESN) in 2002 Harare Zimbabwe.

4.   The Nature of the Electoral Systems in Zimbabwe (2003). A study of the electoral system in Zimbabwe and the role of women at Centre for Peace Initiatives in Africa (CPIA) workshop.

5.   Electoral Laws in Zimbabwe (CPIA) workshop (2003)

 

Entrepreneurship Experience

Co-Director, Nesmak Enterprises, 1992-2000. I managed various businesses including stationery, food processing and input (seed and fertilizer) supply.

Marketing Manager, Mermaids and Kamelia Cosmetics, 1987-1990

Training Manager Vaida Chemicals 1985- 1987, Training department specializing in training company interns. 1985-1987

Debtors Clerk, Vaida Chemicals 1982-1985. I was responsible of collecting the company’s funds and taking necessary steps to recover money from defaulters.

Nhimbe Seeds Farmer empowerment and development through input credit support activities with special focus on communities affected and afflicted by HIV/AIDS, 2007.

 

Professional Affiliations

Member, African Parliamentarian Network against Corruption (APNAC)

Member, The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society

Member, The Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe

Member and Chair, The Mhondoro Constituency Development Committee

Member, Association for Mental Health

Member, Hunyani Rotary Club.

 

I was appointed by Parliament of Zimbabwe as an election observer under the auspices of (SADC-PF) Observer Team, to observe Lesotho General Elections in 2002.

 

REFEREES

 

Abdul Kamara, PhD

Resident Representative

African Development Bank | Sudan Country Office (SDFO)

Heiglig Petroleum Tower, P. O. Box 644, Khartoum 11111, Sudan

Mobile: 0920876331

Tel:  +249 183236240 / Fax: +249 183236220

E-mail: a.d.kamara@afdb.org

 

Mr DEPROSE MUCHENA

OSISA, 12^th Floor Braamfontein Centre

23 Jorisen Street, Braamfontein 2017

Johannesburg, South Africa

0027 11 403 3414; 0027 7302 310 78

E-mail: deprosem@osisa.org

 

Prof HOPE C SADZA

Vice-Chancellor, Women’s University in Africa

P.O Box MP1222, Mt Pleasant, Harare, ZIMBABWE

Tel: 263 4 334 382; Cell: 263 912 263 880

Email womunica@africaonline.co.zw



Statement :

a motivated and focused political economist with a proven fifteen years of hands-on experience in politics and public service, working with civil society to influence and advance economic and social well-being, including gender mainstreaming seeking an entry-level in the United Nations.