By Never Kadungure
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is in a no-nonsense mood axing under-performing ministers and officials in the past few weeks. After giving 4 ministers the boot Tsvangirai is said to have rung more changes in his own office including demoting his spokesperson James Maridadi.
Although the weekly Financial Gazette reported that Maridadi had been removed as the PM’s spokesman as part of a restructuring exercise Nehanda Radio can exclusively reveal that the former Radio 3 DJ is in fact in hot soup after having an affair with Tsvangirai’s secretary at Munhumutapa Building in Harare.
Maridadi the former spokesman for the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) is a known bed hopper and his past indiscretions were a cause of concern when Tsvangirai first appointed him. Old habits die hard. So serious is the latest scandal Maridadi succeeded in getting the PM’s secretary Edith pregnant. This left no room for a discreet resolution of the matter.
The decision to pluck Maridadi from obscurity into the top political job did not go down well with party supporters in the first place. It’s thought many will celebrate the elevation of Luke Tamborinyoka as Tsvangirai’s new spokesman. The current Director of Information is famed for being one of the most talented wordsmith in the party and fits the job perfectly.
We understand Tamborinyoka will begin his new duties on Monday.
MDC-T spokesperson Nelson Chamisa confirmed the changes were under consideration in an interview with the state-run Herald newspaper.
“This is a process of re-alignment in the PM’s Office, which is meant to strengthen the party and his office. However, discussions are ongoing and no decisions have been made. But the names that are under consideration are that of Mr (William) Bango and Mr (Luke) Tamborinyoka,” he was quoted as saying.
Other changes going to be made will include the appointment of Jacob Mafume, a former legal advisor to the Prime Minister’s Office, as the executive assistant to Ian Makone — Tsvangirai’s chief secretary.
Abisha Nyaguwo, formerly the director of the social cluster in the Prime Minister’s Office, has been redeployed to Harvest House as chief of staff, taking over from Chris Mbanga.
Emmanuel Chiwanda, formerly the director of security in the Prime Minister’s Office, has been shunted to the party’s headquarters where he will be in charge of security while Valentine Sinamane, a former director of projects, has been deployed to the head office.
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