ZIMBABWE'S INFORMATION MINISTER TICHAONA JOKONYA WAS FOUND DEAD BY AIDES ON SATURDAY IN A HARARE HOTEL ROOM, A SENIOR OFFICIAL SAID, ACCORDING TO REUTERS. GEORGE CHARAMBA, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN, SAID A STATE PATHOLOGIST WAS TRYING TO ESTABLISH THE CAUSE OF DEATH. LOCAL MEDIA HAD REPORTED JOKONYA HAD BEEN UNWELL FOR SOME TIME. JOKONYA, 67, A LONGTIME DIPLOMAT WHO WAS FORMERLY ZIMBABWE'S PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, WAS APPOINTED MINISTER IN APRIL LAST YEAR. HE REPLACED JONATHAN MOYO, WHO WAS FIRED BY PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE FOR STANDING AS AN INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE IN THE MARCH 2005 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. MOYO WON A SEAT IN THE VOTE. WHILE GOVERNMENT MINISTERS GENERALLY LIVE IN HARARE, IT IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR THEM TO STAY IN HOTELS PRIOR TO EARLY MEETINGS.
