via Jostling for Information ministry begins – DailyNews Live 9 July 2015 by Thelma Chikwanha
HARARE – President Robert Mugabe is expected to appoint his next Information minister soon, amid reports of fierce jostling for the influential position, with a number of prominent names being thrown around.
Information ministry permanent secretary George Charamba’s name has been thrown into the fray and is said to be one of the favourites to land the post.
The spin-doctor, Charamba, a British-trained Chevening scholar, has been very close to Mugabe and effectively runs the Munhumutapa Building operations as the technocrat.
Potential candidates include Psychology Maziwisa, the Zanu PF deputy secretary for Information, Information Communication Technology minister Supa Mandiwanzira and War Veterans minister Chris Mutsvangwa.
Analysts canvassed by the Daily News yesterday said the proposed candidates were not suitable for the post as the president was looking to appoint a moderate not linked to any faction.
A Zanu PF official who spoke on condition of anonymity also confirmed the president was keen on appointing a candidate who would quell factionalism that is spreading within the party like a veld fire.
Media and democracy scholar Pedzisai Ruhanya said the touted candidates were not sophisticated enough to deal with the portfolio.
“The people on that speculative list do not have an understanding of the relationship between the State and its relations regionally and internationally,” Ruhanya said.
“Secondly, they are not competent on account of balancing factionalism.
“I think Mugabe will look at someone who understands party and State politics. Zanu PF is a big party and he can look for someone there.
“Besides the non-constituency MP is still vacant and he can appoint someone on that basis.”
University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer Eldred Masunungure concurred with Ruhanya, saying that Mugabe should exercise prudence in appointing the new Information minister.
“The ministry of Information is strategic to any government and any regime as it deals with specific strategic tasks,” Masunungure said.
“It seems the president is concerned with deepening factionalism and succession wars and the fact that he appointed an acting minister means he has not yet identified the right person.
“If you look at the acting minister (Prisca Mupfumira), you will find that she has not been identified with any particular faction.
“He wants someone like that and those names mentioned are identified with factionalism and will not meet his expectations.
“For Mugabe, it is time for healing especially for those who survived the purges and remained in the party.
“It is a time to put a stop. It is not the time to dig deeper. He is concerned that the party needs to unite and focus on policy issues.”
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