Staff Reporter

Zimbabwe’s Dr Cosmas Zavazava is tipped to land the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Director Telecommunication Development Bureau (DTDB) post at the elections scheduled for March 2022.

Dr Zavazava, who once campaigned for the same post in 2017, is expected to grab the post considering that he narrowly lost to Doreen Martin from the United States of America (USA).

A source who spoke to this publication said that although there are some forces that are working against the candidature of Dr Zavazava, chances are high that he will bag the post as most of the African countries are likely to support his candidature.

“Dr Zavazava is set to contest for the DTDB post during ITU’s conference to be held next year. He is expected to win resoundingly considering that he narrowly lost to an American, Doreen Martin, under unclear circumstances. This time, he is likely to face a candidate from Gabon who is being backed by America. However, most of the African countries are supporting the candidature of Dr Zavazava,” said the source.

According to the source, elections that were held in 2017 in United Arab Emirates were heavily tilted against Dr Zavazava as the US splashed some money as they went in a vote buying spree in support of their candidate Martin.

The same source added that Dr Zavazava is the right candidate for the job considering his vast experience as he has worked for ITU for twenty years. He added that Dr Zavazava now awaits government endorsement for him to contest the DTDB post 

“All things being equal, Dr Zavazava should be given the post considering his vast experience. He has been working for ITU for the past 20 years .He did well as the Chief of Projects and Knowledge Management and he can only be rewarded by the DTDB post. Academically, Dr Zavazava is a holder of a  PhD in Multilateral Trade and Master’s Degrees in Telecommunications and Information Technology Law, International Relations and Business Administration, so he is well equipped for the post,” said the source.

ITU is an agency of the United Nations (UN) whose purpose is to coordinate telecommunication operations and services throughout the world. It sets and publishes regulations and standards relevant to electronic communication and broadcasting technologies of all kinds including radio, television, satellite, telephone and internet.