Zululand Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZCCI) members on Thursday night unanimously voted to renounce its constitution, which stipulates to re-elect a new president after two years, to hold onto their current trailblazer.

Judith Nzimande, General Manager of Human Resources at the Richards Bay Coal Terminal, was evidently dumbstruck when the chamber’s auditor, Mark Bateman-Evans, suddenly rose before the closure of the ZCCI annual general meeting, declaring the importance to retain her as president.

With not a single objection in the jam-packed Pelican Hall, Nzimande graciously agreed to continue her role in the region.

In the past two years at the helm, Nzimande managed to unite Zululand’s corporate giants and government leaders to ensure the crucial doubling of the water capacity of the Tugela Transfer Scheme to Goedertrouw Dam.

The urgent drought intervention led a high powered delegation in April with the then KZN Premier Senzo Mchunu and the Department of Water and Sanitation, resulting in a R700-million commitment to fast-track
water infrastructure projects to Zululand.

Her direct communication with Telkom executives when a cut cable caused chaos in Richards Bay’s CBD in January, also ensured their pledge to restore the 2400 lines out of commission within four days.

ZCCI EXCO member Dave Whittaker thanked Nzimande for her influence as a respected business leader and for bringing together the region’s movers and shakers for effective progress.

‘We have much closer ties with our government thanks to you and we hope to continue to grow even closer with our local and district municipalities.’

ZCCI manager Christa van der Walt also stated Nzimande has been critical in ‘taking the chamber to a whole new level’ as the voice of business. Nzimande thanked the chamber team for their support and hard work.

‘It is only through unity that we will strive.’