Harare — THE Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has begun a search for a new director-general following the expiry of the contract of the incumbent, Dr Morris Mtsambiwa, in March this year.

Advertisements for the post appeared in the Press yesterday, a day after Dr Mtsambiwa left the country to attend the Safari Club International Hunting Convention in the USA.

The vice-chairperson for the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority Board, Mr Ngoni Chinogwenya, yesterday said interested applicants, including Dr Mtsambiwa, were free to apply.

In an interview, Mr Chinogwenya said the board was going to accept and assess applications from all the applicants before conducting interviews.

"Dr Mtsambiwa is also permitted to apply if he is still interested in the job," Mr Chinogwenya said.

When Dr Mtsambiwa's contract expired last year, no adverts were placed in the newspapers and his term of office was extended by another year.

Environment and Tourism Minister, Cde Francis Nhema yesterday said the post was not advertised last year on a technicality.

"They failed to time when they were supposed to place the advert and therefore there was no adequate time left to conduct interviews," Cde Nhema said.

He said that if Dr Mtsambiwa also tendered his application, the board would assess his performance during his term and the achievements made.

"The board is going to look into all that he has done from his appointment in 2003 as the first director general for the authority," Cde Nhema said.

Some workers at the authority were, however, not comfortable with the flighting of the advertisements.

"It is an indication that his contract is likely not to be renewed, advertising for the post a day after he has left the country was deliberate not a coincidence," a senior employee said.