Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister Tatenda Mavetera has stepped forward to clarify her qualifications after being mocked following claims that Zimbabwe may require WhatsApp group administrators to acquire licences or face penalties.
A side-by-side photo collage comparing Minister Mavetera’s qualifications with those of Rwanda’s ICT and Innovation Minister, Paula Ingabire, circulated widely on social media. The collage highlighted Ingabire’s extensive qualifications, including a BS in Computer Engineering and Information, along with significant ICT experience as Head of ICT at Rwanda’s Development Board. In contrast, it listed Mavetera’s qualifications as a Marketing degree from the Women’s University in Africa (WUA) and cited her experience as founding Women4ED and her role in the popular soap opera Studio 263.
Mavetera clarified that she had no intention of licencing WhatsApp group admins through the Post and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ). She also took the opportunity to share her academic background, which includes multiple degrees and revealed that she is studying towards a PhD.
“If you want to know my qualifications. Here they are:
1. BSc Honours in Management and Marketing WUA
2. Masters in Strategic Marketing MSU
3. Masters in Development studies WUA
4. PHD candidate in Doctorate in Business Leadership majoring in Digital Marketing and Information Systems MSU
5. Diploma in Shipping, courier and forwarding (AB,” Mavetera said.
Zimbos Praise and Mock Mavetera Following Her Disclosure
Mavetera’s disclosure triggered mixed reactions. Supporters praised her commitment to higher education and leadership skills, while others felt her qualifications were disconnected from the technical demands of her ministerial role. Here are some of the reactions:
