Zimbabwe's information minister found dead

HARARE, June 24 (Reuters) Zimbabwe's Information Minister Tichaona Jokonya was today found dead by aides in a Harare hotel room, a senior official said.

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.

Jokonya was welcomed by local media on his appointment and was regarded as more dovish than Moyo, who is credited with crafting harsh media laws that bar foreign journalists from operating in the country.

Under Moyo, several private-owned newspapers were closed and dozens of journalists arrested for breaching media laws.

REUTERS SB KN2150