Bikita RDC CEO Chibi wins yet another prestigious award

Peter Chibi

…development,
improved services define council business

Brighton Chiseva

Bikita
Rural District Council CEO Peter Chibi has won yet another prestigious award at
the MEGAFEST 2019 awards ceremony held at Cresta Lodge in Masasa, Harare, on
August 30.

Chibi
was named CEO of the Year 2019 gold winner in the MEGAFEST Local Government and
Public Sector Awards.

This
was in recognition of his display of remarkable leadership in steering council
business.

In
an interview, Chibi said he was honoured to receive the award for the second
time, adding that the recognition was a motivation for him to perform even better.

“I
am honoured to receive the award one more time. This is a result the support I
receive from my family, councillors, executive, staff and ratepayers. Without
their unwavering support, my success would be a fairy tale. I humbly ask for
their continued support.

“I
always want good results and those that I work with know that I always want to work
towards set targets,” said Chibi.

Born
and bred in Bikita, Chibi attended Silveira Secondary School between 1988 and
1991 before proceeding to St Anthony’s Musiso High School for his ‘A’ levels
from 1992 – 1993.

In
1994, he worked as a sales clerk at Triangle Limited – Cotton Gin Company
before moving on to work as a wages and salaries clerk in the same year.

He
worked as a trainee accountant (industrial attachment) at Triangle in 1997
before moving on to Victoria Falls Hotel where he worked as a revenue
controller the following year.

In
2003, Chibi taught accounting, management of business, economics, accounts and
business studies at Eveline High School.

He
became Bikita district accountant at the Ministry of Education, Sports and
Culture in 2008 before joining Bikita RDC that very same year at the age of 30.

At
Bikita RDC, Chibi began as substantive executive officer finance at a time when
the country’s economic situation was marked by hyperinflation.

The
economic environment required a financial strategist to manage finances as prices
of commodities changed overnight.

Chibi
soon proved to possess the kind of attributes that were required although managing
the changeover from the Zimbabwean dollar to the multicurrency regime was a
nightmare for all finance managers.

As
the finance person, Chibi’s task was to change the Zimbabwe dollar budget to
the base currency; the US Dollar. This task had its challenges which he handled
smoothly as proved by the council’s overall performance at the time.

In
June 2015, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bikita RDC, a position
he has held to date.

His
other notable achievements include the introduction of popular open markets to widen
revenue base and the revival of cattle sales.

The
introduction of a kitchen facility, completion of bar and improvement of rooms
at the council-owned Pambudzi Lodge and the Opening of Umkondo Account in the
books of accounts were other initiatives introduced under Chibi.

Since
his appointment, he has spearheaded a number of projects including the
surfacing of 3.8km of roads at Nyika growth point, construction of Uteke Bridge
as well as Mupakwa, Gangare and Musviba roads.

A
total of 40 solar street lights were installed at Nyika growth point.

Under
Chibi, the local authority facilitated an electrification project in Duma
suburb as well as the drilling, rehabilitation and installation of 46 boreholes
around the district this year alone.

The
local authority also serviced 51 medium density stands in Duma and 140 low density
stands in Chinobva suburb.

Under
Chibi’s leadership, Bikita RDC completed the construction of a multi-purpose facility
and a gazebo at Pambudzi Lodge. The local authority also built five clinics
namely Uyerera, Chibvure, Odzi, Norumedzo and Gedhemaranganyika.

With
him at the helm, Bikita RDC saw the construction of nurses’ houses at Mapovomhovo,
Muvava and Ngorima clinics and the upgrading of water pumps at Mtikizizi and
Negovano clinics.

Bikita
RDC undertook the drilling of boreholes and installation of a submersible pump
at Negovano Clinic. Council also facilitated the electrification of Murwira,
Gangare, Hozvi, Odzi and Gava clinics as well as the fencing of Chitasa, Odzi,
Murwira, Hozvi and Marozva clinics.

Matezano
and Budiriro secondary school received roofing materials from council while a
land survey was conducted to enable residents to acquire title deeds.

The
local authority now uses audit software and a housing module for efficient and
effective management of stands allocations and leases.

There are plans to give
council offices the much-needed facelift while continuing with the surfacing
work being done on 2.3km of roads in Duma.

Chibi is a holder of
Master of Commerce Degree in Strategic Management from Great Zimbabwe University
(GZU) and a Bachelor of Commerce Honours Degree in Accounting from the National
University of Science and Technology (NUST).

Other staff members of
Bikita RDC were also honoured in the recent past, with the head of the Audit
Department being named the Head of Audit of the Year 2019 bronze medal at the
same event.

Secretary in the office
of the Bikita RDC CEO, Judith Magadza was recently crowned Best Secretary in
the Local Authorities category of the Association of Secretaries and Personal
Assistants Zimbabwe (ASPAZ) Masvingo Region awards ceremony.