Paul Nyathi|PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed Mr Kumbirai Hodzi who came a distant seventh in public interviews as the country’s substantive Prosecutor-General, against ten other prominent lawyers who had applied for the position.
Mnangagwa is set to swear in Hodzi as Zimbabwe’s substantive Prosecutor-General at State House on Wednesday morning.
Hodzi, has been serving as Acting PG for almost a year.
ZimEye.com can confirm that Hodzi came 7th during the public interviews held by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) in November last year.
The JSC submitted the names of the top three performers to Mnangagwa for consideration as required by the Constitution.
Former principal law officer Calvin Mantsebo came first with former student activist Tinomudaishe Chinyoka and president of the Law Society of Zimbabwe Misheck Hogwe coming second and third respectively.
Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Virginia Mabiza confirmed to local media that Mnangagwa had asked for new names after the three were presented claiming that they all did not meet his expectations.
There were reports by some sections of the media that the names of the top three performers in the public interviews held last year were rejected by Mnangagwa as Secretary for Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Virginia Mabiza preferred Hodzi.
The sources said Mnangagwa ruled out Mantsebo on the basis that very little was known about him, while Chinyoka was discredited for his previous association with the opposition MDC.
Mnangagwa’s reservations about Mantsebo and Chinyoka effectively meant Hogwe would be the automatic choice, but influential senior officials from the Justice ministry opposed his appointment.
Included on the original shortlist was former MDC legislator Ms Jessie Majome, former High Court Judge Mr Maphios Cheda, Acting Prosecutor-General Mr Kumbirai Hodzi and Bulawayo lawyer Mr Tavengwa Hara.
Initial speculation was high that Jessie Majome would land the post.
Other shortlisted candidates are former deputy prosecutor general Mrs Florence Ziyambi, lawyers Mrs Wendy Mangeya, Edmund Edios Marondedza and Ms Noria Mashumba.
The post fell vacant following the suspension and subsequent resignation of Advocate Ray Goba in July last year.
Mr Hodzi has been Acting PG since July 24 last year. He had been Deputy Attorney-General in charge of the Legal Advice Section since 2012.