The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Barbara Creecy, announced the appointment of Mr Peter Mbelengwa from Madombidzha as the department's new chief director/head of communications and advocacy and spokesperson for the department.
Mbelengwa will play a crucial part in building and sustaining relationships with members of the media and communities, as well as local and international stakeholders in the environment sector, and advocate for sustainable use of our natural resources, among other things.
"We are confident that, with his academic qualifications, sound media-relations skills and expertise in areas of strategic communication and stakeholder management, Mbelengwa will seamlessly lead our communication efforts as we endeavour to build a society that lives in harmony with its environment," said Creecy.
Mbelengwa has a track record spanning more than 20 years in government communications, having worked in multiple departments, including the South African Police Service, City of Tshwane, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Ministry of Water and Environmental Affairs, the Department of Arts and Culture, and the Ministry in the Presidency responsible for Women.
He started school at Petamukanda Primary School before moving to Tshilwavhusiku Primary School, where he completed his junior primary level. He did his higher primary education at Tshikwarani Primary School and completed Grade 12 at Litshovhu Secondary School. He furthered his tertiary studies at the then Technikon Northern Gauteng (TNG), now known as Tshwane University of Technology, were he obtained his national diploma. At TNG he cut his teeth in the media space, working at the campus radio station, TNG FM.
Among his many academic qualifications, Mbelengwa holds a bachelor of arts in communication science from the University of South Africa and recently graduated with a postgraduate diploma in business administration from the Wits Business School. He is expected to commence with his duties as the new head of communication and advocacy on 2 October.