Zimbabwe has enlisted the support of Germany for its candidate to land the post of African Development Bank (AfDB) president, Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa said yesterday.
BY NDAMU SANDU
Zimbabwean Thomas Zondo Sakala is vying for the top post and has to shrug off competition from seven other candidates to win the right to replace Rwandan Donald Kaberuka at the bank’s annual meetings in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire on May 28.
Briefing journalists after meeting Georg Schmidt, German regional director-general for sub-Saharan Africa and the Sahel, Chinamasa said Zimbabwe reiterated its plea for the European giant’s support.
“We appealed to Germany to support the Sadc candidate for the presidency. The message had already been communicated to the Foreign Affairs minister in Germany by their ambassador,” Chinamasa said.
A former AfDB executive, Sakala has to shrug off the challenges from Akinwumi Adesina (Nigeria), Sufian Ahmed (Ethiopia), Jaloul Ayed (Tunisia), Kordje Bedoumra (Chad), Cristina Duarte (Cape Verde), Samurai Kamara (Sierra Leone) and Malian Birama Boubacar Sidibe.
The banker has already bagged the support of Sadc and his campaign team will be on the offensive to lure the votes from non-Sadc members and non-African members.
AfDB is owned 60% by African countries and 40% by non-Africans.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
As at January 31 2015, Germany was the third largest non-regional shareholders of AfDB with a total votes of 264 915 behind US (421 316) and Japan (352 694).
However, the voting powers to be used in computing votes for the election would be those issued as of April 30 and certified by the bank’s board of directors.
Sakala resigned from AfDB last year to campaign for the top post having worked for the bank since 1983. At the time of his departure, Sakala was Vice-President, Country and Regional Programmes and Policies at AfDB.
