By Dorrothy Moyo | Mystery surrounds the resignation of the controversial Zimbabwe Electoral Commission boss Rita Makarau.

Makarau’s sudden resignation comes within two weeks of the appointment of Emmerson Mnangagwa to the Presidency.

Makarau was former President Robert Mugabe’s favourite of sorts having served at various posts directly appointed by Mugabe.

Her resignation was confirmed today by the Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi who professed ignorance of the reasons.

“Yes, she sent her resignation yesterday (Thursday) and I saw it today in the morning as I spent the day in Parliament on Thursday. She just indicated she wants to resign from ZEC, but she did not give any reasons,” said Minister Ziyambi.

Before her resignation, she was holding three different senior posts, something MPs and analysts questioned as to her ability to avoid a conflict of interest.

She will now remain a Supreme Court judge, and also secretary for the Judicial Services Commission (JSC).

When grilled by MPs recently, former Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Retired Major General Happyton Bonyongwe said conflict of interest did not arise, as the appointments were Constitutional.

“If elections were to be contested in court, there is only one role which Justice Makarau will play,” he said while responding to MPs’ questions.

Bonyongwe continued saying, “the issue of Justice Makarau being Secretary of the JSC and head of ZEC has not interfered with the decisional independence of judicial officers seized with such matters and neither have appointments of contact or conflict been created.”