By Own Correspondent| For his previous association with opposition MDC, former student activist Tinomudaishe Chinyoka has been rejected for the Prosecutor General (PG) post by President Emmerson Mnangagwa despite being one of the three top performers that made it during the interviews.

A local publication reports that Chinyoka came second to the former principal law officer Calvin Mantsebo who came first while president of the Law Society of Zimbabwe Misheck Hogwe was third in the interviews conducted last year.

Mnangagwa has however asked the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) to submit three new names for the post of Prosecutor General post.

Following the completion of public interviews in November last year, the JSC submitted the names of the top three performers to Mnangagwa for consideration as required by the Constitution.

When contacted by The Independent, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Virginia Mabiza confirmed Mnangagwa had asked for new names.

Sources in the Justice ministry said the JSC is under political pressure from Zanu PF, which wants to influence the process.

Sources said Mnangagwa ruled out Mantsebo on the basis that very little was known about him, while Chinyoka was discredited for his previous association with the opposition MDC.

Mnangagwa’s reservations about Mantsebo and Chinyoka effectively meant Hogwe would be the automatic choice, but influential senior officials from the Justice ministry opposed his appointment.