Bona is competent, honest, and reliable - says Mugabe's nephew

Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment counterpart Patrick Zhuwao has defended the appointment of President Robert Mugabe's daughter Bona into the Empower Bank board.

According to Zhuwao, Bona is competent and has the required skills.

Below is part of Zhuwao's interview with the Standard :

Standard: Some people have voiced concern over the appointment of Bona Chikore into the board. What special skills or qualifications does she bring to the board?

Zhuwao: For Mrs Chikore, the due process was followed. As per the Prudential Standards No. 07-2014/BSD [Fitness & Probity Assessment Criteria], all her required documents were submitted to the RBZ who duly approved her appointment based on her qualifications and experience.

According to the standards, a "fit and proper person" is one who is of good character, competent, capable, honest, financially sound, reputable and reliable.

Standard: What special skills or qualifications does she bring to the board? Zimbabweans have been demanding answers.

Zhuwao: Is the concern a politically biased one, just because she is the daughter of the president of Zimbabwe who happens to be from Zanu PF? If so, no answer I give would reason with such politicised concerns.

Or are they real concerns about the qualifications and capacities of a young Zimbabwean woman? Certainly, she must then be considered, like everyone else, according to her capacity and abilities to be entrusted with such a position. What has she achieved as a youth, a young woman?

She pursued her education in the finance sector to the level of a degree and masters. She also has experience in business, having helped run a commercial business, that is Gushungo Dairy.

She has also started her own business. So why can she not be considered, does she not have much she can offer to her Zimbabwean peers who are to benefit from the Empower Bank? Most importantly, her nomination has followed the same due process required by RBZ, which considers her qualifications and experience.

It also considers whether she is of good character, competent, capable, honest, financially sound, reputable and reliable. Bona Chikore is certainly a young Zimbabwean woman who is all these things.

Standard: What is your reaction to accusations that her appointment amounted to nepotism as the president is expected to approve the board?

Zhuwao: There is no nepotism. She fits into the criteria used by the RBZ to weigh and approve such nominations, so why should she not serve her country and its people as any other youth should?

She is one among the three young people nominated to represent their peers, to open doors and ensure greater access to opportunities for the youth.

Surely, she is like the other young people I have nominated to Empower Bank and Nieeb. Those two boards alone will have a third of youth representation, eight out of 22. With five being young women, the quality of these young people makes them assets to the youth empowerment agenda.

Standard: Were you influenced by anyone to appoint Bona Chikore?

Zhuwao: I was influenced by what she has to offer, what she has achieved as a Zimbabwean woman and a youth.

Standard: What is your reaction to calls to reverse such appointments?

Zhuwao: I don't give in to pressure. I am not the type that gives in to pressure. I am not a coward that gives in to pressure. Pressure from whom? From zvituta zvevanhu [fools] who want to consider things on the basis that this person is related to this person. That is nonsensical.

The same argument that is being used for the pressure is that I must not consider someone because she is a relative. There is no pressure they will put.