Harare – Bona Mugabe, 27, eldest child of President Robert Mugabe, has been appointed to Zimbabwe’s censorship board – along with several other leading citizens close to the first family.
Bona Mugabe has always kept a low profile and even now is not often seen in high flying social circles.
In the past few years, the Mugabe family have been promoted in various ways.
Grace Mugabe was awarded a PhD from the University of Zimbabwe after registering a few months earlier and is now widely known as "Doctor".
Bona Mugabe’s husband, Simba Chikore, was recently appointed chief executive of Air Zimbabwe, and is trying to turn the airline around as it is bankrupt.
This week it had only one of its five aircraft in the air as the others need maintenance.
He was a former pilot with an Asian airline before meeting Bona Mugabe after she had completed her accountancy degree at City University in Hong Kong and post-graduate studies in Singapore.
Bona Mugabe and her husband Simba Chikore had a picturesque wedding at their parents' palatial home in northern Harare in 2014.
His family are owners of a recently constructed R2.8billion electricity plant which runs on fuel, and generates power into the national grid.
The new censorship board was announced by Home Affairs Minister Ignatius Chombo on Tuesday.
“The constitution has a provision for the freedom of artistic expression, cultural beliefs and association and the same constitution empowers the board of censors to ensure that these freedoms do not infringe on other people’s rights,” said Chombo.
Actor and producer, Silvanos Mudzvova, told New Zimbabwe.com he was critical of the new board, not least because a Mugabe family member was appointed to it.
“They will never approve any work critical of or against the government, ruling party Zanu-PF or the first family. And Bona will never approve any theatrical scripts or material that criticise her father,” said Mudzvova.
“It’s the final nail in the artistic freedom of expression coffin but as artists we should just stop sending our products for censorship but take the government head on.”
The new board will be led by former education minister, historian and traditional leader Aeneas Chigwedere.
Other members are Zimbabwe Police Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba, who is also national police spokesperson, and Mugabe’s favourite priest, retired senior Jesuit, Father Fidelis Mukonori.