Paul Pindani in CHINHOYI
FORMER Chinhoyi University of Technology director, Dr Musekiwa Clinton Tapera, has been described as a brand ambassador of the province’s only highest institute of learning.
CUT Vice Chancellor, Prof David Jambwa Simbi, said the university lost one of its most illustrious employees.
He said Tapera worked for the university for over 18 years and was their ambassador.
“When we talk about the late Dr Tapera, we are talking about Chinhoyi University of Technology, an institution which came from nothing to where it is because of the efforts of Dr Tapera,” said Prof Simbi
“We cannot say the University is known internationally without mentioning his name.
“Our first exposure in the international world was in Malaysia, where he took a group of students for some university competitions.
“So, when we talk about internationalisation of the university, the brand ambassador is Dr Tapera.
“We used to call him Taps.”
Zimpapers national marketing and advertising manager, Phillipa Gomo, described the late Dr Tapera, as a pillar of strength.
“It’s a great loss. He was our pillar of strength in the field of marketing and public relations and, as Zimpapers, we have lost a big client.
“We just hope we will carry on with the relationship we used to have with him with those left at the university.
“He was a man who was blessed with a gift of love for everyone and especially his family,” said Gomo.
Zimbabwe Union of Journalists Chinhoyi Chapter chairman, James Muonwa, described the late Dr Tapera as a public relations person, who accommodated every journalist regardless of one’s media house.
“We come here as a union with a heavy heart. Dr Tapera was always there to give professional advice to the Union.
“During his time as the marketing and public relations director, we never encountered any challenges of discrimination of journalists on the grounds of which media house one came from, whether public or private.
“We had no challenges in accessing information,” said Muonwa.