UN secretary general appoints Zimbabwean expert to top role

By Staff Reporter

UNITED NATIONS secretary general, António Guterres, has appointed Zimbabwean, Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, deputy executive director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women).

Gumbonzvanda will take over from Sarah Hendriks of Canada.

A Tuesday statement from the world body confirming the changes read; “Gumbonzvanda is the founder and Executive Director of the Rozaria Memorial Trust, based in Zimbabwe.

“Previously, she served as Secretary General of the Young Women of the World Christian Association and Director of Regional Programming for the United Nations Development Fund for Women in the East and Horn of Africa.

Thank you @UNSG Mr @antonioguterres for the trust and confidence in me.

I will give best efforts to deliver on the mandate under Ms Sima Bahous @unwomenchief leadership with gvts & all partners.#equality #rights #empowerment, #dignity #accountabilityhttps://t.co/VdAph8L6Xr

— Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda (@vanyaradzayi) January 2, 2024

“She has also worked for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) as a Human Rights Officer in Liberia and National Advisor on the Rights of the Child in Zimbabwe.”

The statement added; “Prior to joining UNICEF, she was the Acting Coordinator of the Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association and an Associate Legal Officer in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Constitutional Affairs of Zimbabwe.

“She was also appointed as the African Union‘s first Goodwill Ambassador for the fight against child marriage.”

Gumbonzvanda received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Massachusetts (USA).

She holds a Master of Laws from the University of South Africa, a Postgraduate Certificate in Conflict Transformation from Uppsala University (Sweden) and a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of Zimbabwe.