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President Mugabe shares a lighter moment with African Development Bank (AfDB) presidential candidate Mr Thomas Zondo Sakala (centre) and Finance and Economic Development Minister Cde Patrick Chinamasa at Munhumutapa Building in Harare yesterday

Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
Aspiring African Development Bank president Mr Thomas Zondo Sakala, yesterday paid a courtesy call on President Mugabe at his Munhumutapa Offices to brief him on his candidature and seeks his support as sadc Chairperson in campaigning for the job.

Mr Sakala was accompanied by Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa.

In a statement, Mr Sakala said his objective was to sustain the transformation of the AfDB. “My driving objective in seeking the presidency is to sustain and enhance the transformation of AfDB and Africa. This entails consolidating and refining the operational strategy, reforms and initiatives introduced under Dr (Donald) Kaberuka’s sterling leadership in order to guarantee the bank’s relevancy to its clients,” he said.

Mr Sakala is a former AfDB vice president responsible for operations and was in charge of broad oversight of the dialogue between the Bank and all African countries.

His responsibilities included coordination of the preparation and approval of the country and regional strategies and programming in Africa. The elections for the AfDB presidency will be held in May when Dr Kaberuka’s tenure comes to an end with Mr Sakala vying for the post against seven other candidates. Mr Sakala stepped down from his vice presidency post to challenge for the AfDB’s top post.