Harare, 12 Nov. 2014 - The Eastern and Southern Africa Staff Association (ESASA) in Harare organized a lavish ceremony to welcome and congratulate Regional Director (RD) elect, Dr Matshidiso Moeti to Zimbabwe. Dr Moeti was nominated to be the next RD at the annual Regional Committee Meeting which took place in Cotonou, Benin, from 3-7 November 2014, and she is the first female RD in the region.  She is scheduled to take up her new post on 1 February 2015, succeeding Dr Luis Sambo, whose mandate ends on 31 January 2015 after having served as the RD for the past 10 years. Dr Moeti returned to Harare to resume her post as IST Coordinator for Eastern and Southern Africa (IST/ESA) until 31 January 2015.

Staff welcomed Dr Moeti with congratulatory placards, songs, and dance as she drove into the WHO compound in the morning and proceeded to have a group photo with her.  In the afternoon the staff association hosted a welcome ceremony where Dr Moeti was officially congratulated and welcomed to Zimbabwe.

Speakers at the ceremony all congratulated Dr Moeti for being the first female RD in the region, and wished her well in her journey as RD. They also pledged the support of WHO teams in Zimbabwe (WCO and IST/ESA) to help her achieve the goals she has set for Africa. One of the speakers, Dr W. Nkhoma said the WHO Harare team is happy to be associated with the RD elect. “As IST/ESA , we are proud that one of us is now RD”, he said.  The Staff Association President, Mr Simbarashe Mazvidza also echoed the same sentiments when he said, “WHO teams in Zimbabwe are privileged to have the first female Regional Director from our midst, from our office, and from Southern Africa…” WR/Zimbabwe, Dr David Okello also congratulated Dr Moeti, and said that her victory is well deserved as she displayed high levels of professionalism and a vision  for improving the health of Africa and Africans. He also pledged the support of WCO Zimbabwe to help her achieve her set goals. “We will walk with you and support you on this journey, and help you to achieve your set goals,” said Dr Okello. 

In her statement, RD elect, Dr Moeti thanked the staff for the welcome gesture and pledged to work for and with every member state to address the health challenges facing the African Region. She said she is coming in at a time when the African Region is reeling under the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak, which has brought the organization under scrutiny and criticism, but she committed to build on what  has been done so far and learn from the criticism and come out victorious.  She also said that there is need to improve the visibility of the organization and publicize what WHO is doing because a lot is happening but little is said about it.