Joel Biggie Matiza (17 August 1960 – 22 January 2021) was a Zimbabwean politician and the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development since 2018.Full List Of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Post-Election Cabinet Ministers ⋆ Pindula News
'' Pindula News, published: 07 September 2018, retrieved: 7 September 2018'' He died from

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...

on 22 January 2021.

Early life and education

Matiza was born on 17 August 1960 in Murewa,

Mashonaland East Mashonaland East, informally Mash East, is a province of Zimbabwe. It has an area of 32,230 km2 and a population of approximately 1.35 million (2012). Marondera is the capital of the province. Geography Districts Mashonaland East i ...

to a Shona family. ''The Herald'' (Zimbabwe) states that "He was the first born in a family of six children (four boys and two girls), his siblings being: Tendai and Zviko (twins), Sheila, Zivai and Tambirai. He enrolled for primary education at several primary schools, namely: Nyamutumbu and Kambarami (both in Murewa District) and Monte Casino Mission ( Macheke) between 1966 and 1972. He then went to Murewa High School for secondary education in 1973 finishing Ordinary level in 1975." His entry on the Parliament of Zimbabwe website states he studied O'levels and A'levels at the Nigerian Federal Government College in Kano, and then completed an Architecture BSc and MSc at

Ahmadu Bello University Ahmadu Bello University Zaria is a federal government research university in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. ABU was founded on 4 October 1962, as the pioneer university in Northern Nigeria. It was founded and named after the Sardauna of Sokoto, Al ...

. and graduated in 1987 He then gained a

master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.

in Strategic Management from the

University of Derby , mottoeng = Experience is the best teacher , established = 1851 – Teacher Training College1992 – gained university status , type = Public , chancellor = William Cavendish, Ear ...

,. In December 2020, Matiza received a Doctorate in Business Administration from

Chinhoyi University of Technology Chinhoyi University of Technology also known as CUT was established by an Act by the Parliament of Zimbabwe on 10 December 2001. It is located in the town of Chinhoyi in Mashonaland West about 120 km from Harare towards Lake Kariba and the Z ...

Revolutionary activity

Joel Matizas Zimbabwe Parliament entry states that he joined the Liberation Struggle 1977 (ZIPRA). The official Twitter page for the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Zimbabwe states "Dr Joel Biggie Matiza was the ZANU PF Mash East Provincial Chairman & Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development. Born in 1960 in Murewa, he joined the liberation struggle in 1975 and was deployed to various ZIPRA training camps. He was known as "Cde Destroyer Ndlovu". "After suffering injuries during a raid on Freedom Camp in Zambia, Cde Matiza was hospitalised for a long time before being identified as one of the intellects in the ranks qualifying for educational courses offered by friendly nations. He was sent to Nigeria to pursue his education"

Career

After returning from his Nigerian education, Matiza worked for an architectural firm before being employed by the Urban Development Corporation (Udicorp). The official page for the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Zimbabwe states "He went on to hold several portfolios in ZANU PF and Government.". In 1990, he successfully registered with the Architects Council of Zimbabwe (ACZ) and subsequently became a member of the Institute of Architects of Zimbabwe (MIAZ) Joel Biggie Matiza was founding Chairman & CEO of Studio Arts Inc founded in founded in 1991. Projects include design work on the future New Zimbabwe Parliament Building. and the upgraded of Victoria Falls Airport which was completed in November 2016. In 1999 Matiza was elected to the Zimbabwe Parliament from Murehwa South Constituency, where he served until his death. During the early 2000s as relations between Zimbabwe and Britain deteriorated Matiza advocated for more positive relations with the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

. During the election he campaigned in his district on the basis of "reconciling" with Britain. He said, "I have nothing against the British. Britain is Zimbabwe's natural ally and friend. I would like things to do back to the way they were before Tony Blair, with regards to our relationship with Britain. The people of England are great, our only disagreement is with Blair as an individual." He was placed on the

United States sanctions After the failure of the Embargo Act of 1807, the federal government of the United States took little interest in imposing embargoes and economic sanctions against foreign countries until the 20th century. United States trade policy was entirely a ...

list from 2005 until his death. In 2018, Matiza was appointed Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development. The Ministry of Transport, Communication and Infrastructural Development oversees the following parastatal organisms: * National Railways of Zimbabwe *

Zimbabwe United Passenger Company The Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) is a parastatal company in Zimbabwe, which operates both urban and long-distance bus routes in the country. History ZUPCO was formed in 1985 in Harare, soon after the new government was formed. Be ...

(ZUPCO) * Air Zimbabwe *

Zimbabwe National Roads Administration The Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA) is a Zimbabwean parastatal responsible for the management, maintenance and development of Zimbabwe's national road network. Background The Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) falls un ...

Death

Joel Biggie Matiza died from

on 22 January 2021, during the

COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe The COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 () caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 ().The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached Zimbabwe in March 2020. Som ...

, two days after fellow Minister

Sibusiso Moyo Sibusiso Busi Moyo (SB Moyo) (196020 January 2021) was a Zimbabwean politician and army Lieutenant general. He was noted for announcing the ousting of Robert Mugabe on national television during the 2017 Zimbabwean coup d'état. He went on to ...

. Matiza was hospitalised a week before he died. He became the 4th minister to succumb to the respiratory illness.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Matiza, Joel Biggie 1960 births 2021 deaths Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe People from Mashonaland East Province ZANU–PF politicians Government ministers of Zimbabwe Ahmadu Bello University alumni Alumni of the University of Derby