Online Reporter
Trust Freddy
Herald Correspondent
ZIMBABWE is pinning its hopes on two candidates, Dr Agnes Mahomva and Dr John Basera, who will represent the country in the upcoming African Union Commission elections.
The elections, scheduled to take place next month, will see the two candidates competing for key portfolios in the African Union Commission.
Dr Mahomva will battle it out with Ambassador Amma Twum-Amoah of Ghana for the portfolio of Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development.
On the other hand, Dr Basera, who is the current Secretary for Local Government and Public Works, will compete with candidates from Burundi, Republic of Congo, and Eswatini for the portfolio of Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment.
Initially, Zimbabwe had nominated four candidates for consideration, but only Dr Mahomva and Dr Basera made it to the final shortlist.
Ambassador Rofina Chikava and Dr George Manyaya, who were also nominated, did not participate in the assessment process, which included competency-based interviews, simulation group exercises, and psychometric assessments. The African Union Commission elections will see six commissioner posts up for grabs, with candidates from various African countries competing for the top spots.
In the portfolio of Infrastructure and Energy, SADC will have one candidate from South Africa, Ms Lerato Mataboke, who will battle it out with Cameroon’s National Ambassador Marie Ngakonowho.
Dr Molapo Qhobelqla of South Africa is the only pre-qualified candidate for the portfolio of Commissioner of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation.
The race for the portfolio of Political Affairs will be between Ambassador Bankole Adeoye of Nigeria and Ambassador Jean Jacques Demafouth of the Central African Republic.
According to the African Union communiqué, 11 candidates scored 70 percent and above in the assessment process, while one candidate scored below 70 percent.
The panel agreed on the final ranked shortlist of pre-qualified candidates, from which AUC commissioners will be elected to the executive council in 2025.
