NEPOTISM IN THE AIRWAVES: PRESIDENT MNANGAGWA’S NEPHEW APPOINTED ZBC CHAIRPERSON
In a move that has stoked the fires of public discontent, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed his niece, Helliate Rushwaya, as the new chairperson of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) board. This appointment adds another chapter to the growing narrative of nepotism and cronyism within Mnangagwa’s administration, a government increasingly characterized by familial ties and loyalty over merit.
Helliate Rushwaya steps into the role amidst a backdrop of controversy surrounding her family. The Rushwayas are no strangers to the limelight, with Martin Rushwaya, serving as the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, and Henrietta Rushwaya, a businesswoman with a history of dubious dealings, both related to President Mnangagwa. This pattern of familial appointments has sparked widespread alarm and uproar, with critics accusing the government of favoring patronage and ethnic affiliations over transparency and competency.
The announcement of the new ZBC board, made through a statement by Acting Permanent Secretary for Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services Jonathan Gandari, came at a turbulent time for the broadcaster. The board, also comprising Advocate Lewis Uriri, Chipo Nheta, Precious Charandura, Charles Munganasa, Dr. Henry Mukono, and Dr. Nanette Silukhuni (not Naneti Silikuni as misstated in the Ministry of Information statement), follows the dismissal of the previous board led by Dr. Josaya Tai.
The former board, which included Tai, Thomas Bvuma, Tsitsi Dangarembizi, Heliate Rushwaya, Dorothy Mabika, Devnanda Popatla, Reverend Thompson Dube, and Brian Mutangandebvu, was ousted over a series of performance, oversight, and corporate governance failures at ZBC. This included the inflammatory and tribally divisive remarks by television presenters Farai Juliet Magada and Victoria Manase, which ignited public fury.
The controversy surrounding the presenters stemmed from their propagation of colonial and tribal stereotypes, erroneously claiming that 19th-century Ndebele State King Lobengula Khumalo sold the country for sugar to imperial Britain. This misguided portrayal ignores Lobengula’s historical role in anti-colonial resistance, including his leadership in the legendary Last Stand, also known as the Shangani or Wilson Patrol, on December 4, 1893. Their remarks reflect a broader issue within Zimbabwean media: a longstanding diet of propaganda and misinformation, painting a skewed picture of the country’s colonial history.
In response to these incidents, the Ministry of Information has called for media houses and journalists to be more informed and sensitive to public sentiments, eschewing falsehoods and stereotypes in their reporting. Gandari emphasized the importance of refraining from fictitious stories and commentary that divides the nation.
Look who has grown wings to write about nepotism, l wonder where you got the guts for someone who has nothing accomplished by your age. I hope Raymond won’t have to pay for your mess because justice will prevail, either jungle justice or any other form of justice and someone has to pay for your crimes against the people of Zimbabwe. Your blog is nothing but an anti-ZANU PF campaign and if you think you will just get away with it, thats not possible. A day is coming when you will answer for every word you are writing here and l hope musi wacho muchatipa explanation rasta.
Do you even know the meaning of nepotism?
So ED can’t appoint anyone he is indirectly related to even if she is capable just because of the relationship – don’t be unreasonable Zondayi, usazonde President uchidaro. This woman has the credentials but you all decided to ignore it and focus on what helps you push you useless agenda.
Sad to see that this is what CCC has turned you into.
You sound more like your bosses Tino, what has CCC done to contribute to the current economic struggles of our people and if my work offends you, then you might be part of the problem too. Lets not act like we can’t see the state of our nation.