Helliate Rushwaya Biography | Family Background, Education, Career, Appointment as ZBC Chairperson
This is the biography of Helliate Rushwaya, a Zimbabwean communications and media training specialist.
On January 11, 2024, she was appointed chairperson for the seven-member board of directors at the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), effective January 9. Days before her appointment, she was a member of the board led by Dr Josaya Tai, which had been dismissed due to various performance and corporate governance issues at ZBC.
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Family Background
Helliate Rushwaya is the niece of Zanu-PF politician and President Emmerson Mnangagwa. She is the younger sister of Henrietta Rushwaya.
Education
Rushwaya is a qualified broadcast journalist and holds an MSc in International Events Management, focusing on Televising Major Events.
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Career
Appointment as ZBC Acting CEO
She was appointed to the ZBC Board in July 2019, where she chaired the content, programming, and technical committee.
While serving as a non-executive director at ZBC, Rushwaya was appointed the acting Chief Executive Officer in April 2020, taking over from Wisdom Hombarume. Hombarume returned to his role as the director of digital media and broadcasting technology at ZBC’s Pockets Hill head office in Harare.
In June 2021, Adelaide Chikunguru was appointed as the substantive Chief Executive Officer of ZBC, succeeding Rushwaya.
Other Experience
Rushwaya, with over 20 years of industry experience, has worked with media organizations in Namibia, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
As a communications and media training specialist, Rushwaya has collaborated with international agencies such as the International Cricket Council (ICC) Television for the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers. In 2014, she served as a project manager for the host broadcaster of the Commonwealth Games in Scotland, managing and training television crews that broadcast the live event to 71 countries and territories under the Commonwealth’s auspices.
Appointment as ZBC Chairperson
On 11 January 2024, President Mnangagwa appointed Helliate Rushwaya as the chairperson of the seven-member board of directors for the State broadcaster, ZBC. The other board members included Lewis Uriri, Chipo Nheta, Precious Charandura, Charles Munganasa, Dr. Henry Mukono, and Dr. Nanette Silukhuni. Their four-year tenure commenced on January 9, 2024.
Days before her appointment, Rushwaya was part of the Dr Josaya Tai-led board which was fired over several key performance, oversight and corporate governance issues at ZBC, as well as the crass and tribally divisive remarks by two female television presenters, Farai Juliet Magada and Victoria Manase.
