Power struggle at Information Ministry

Power struggle at Information Ministry

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By Staff Reporter

A POWER struggle has ensued at the Information Ministry following the death of Information Minister Tichaona Jokonya two weeks ago, New Zimbabwe.com has learnt.

The acting Information Minister, Paul Mangwana, last Thursday forced the cancellation of a meeting between managers and editors from the country's state media and President Robert Mugabe's spokesman, George Charamba.

Sources Monday said there was bad blood between Mangwana and Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga on one hand and Charamba on the other side.

Sources said Charamba had summoned the editors to a meeting last Thursday but called it off hours before it took place, under pressure from Mangwana.

The official line trotted out to the editors was that Charamba was busy.

The sources added that since being appointed acting minister following Jokonya's death last month, Mangwana, who is also the Anti-Corruption Minister has centralised power in an effort to frustrate Charamba and Matonga.

Matonga, who defeated Mangwana in the Zanu PF primary elections for Ngezi, is accused by his acting boss of planting false stories in The Mirror implicating him in violence prior to the polls and ordering a state media black-out on him, sources said.

Mangwana has not forgiven Charamba for not heeding his pleas for the media black-out to be lifted, the sources said.

Our sources added: “Mangwana told Charamba that all meetings with government departments and managers from the state media had to be sanctioned by him and in frustration, Charamba cancelled the meeting last Thursday.

"Mangwana said that as he was now aware of Charamba's intentions, the meeting could go on another date."

One editor from the government run Zimpapers stable told New Zimbabwe.com that Charamba wanted to use the meeting to “give directions following Jokonya’s death”.

Neither Charamba nor Mangwana were available for comment late Monday.
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