Fired Deputy Minister, Energy Mutodi |
President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa
has fired Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister
Energy Mutodi with immediate effect.
In
a statement last night, the Permanent Secretary for Presidential Communications
in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Mr Regis Chikowore confirmed the
dismissal saying: “The Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr MJM
Sibanda, has announced the termination of employment by His Excellency the
President, Cde ED Mnangagwa, of Dr Energy Mutodi as Deputy Minister of
Government in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting
Services.”
The
termination is in terms of the country’s Constitution, which empowers the
President to appoint and disappoint Government Ministers. No official reason
was given for the firing of the deputy minister.
However,
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo recently
issued a statement distancing Government from remarks purportedly made by Dr
Mutodi on measures taken by Tanzania to contain Covid-19.
The
said remarks, said the Government, neither reflected Harare’s position nor
policy. Dr Moyo said the Government of Zimbabwe fully respected the sovereign
measures that were adopted by President John Magufuli to contain the spread of
Covid-19 in Tanzania.
“I
make reference to the message of May 4, 2020, purported to have been posted on
Twitter by the Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting
Services Honourable Dr E Mutodi in which he compared the measures against
Covid-19 adopted by the head of state of Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
“I
wish to make it clear that this statement does not reflect the Government’s
position nor policy. The Government of Zimbabwe fully respects the sovereign
measures that the President of United Republic of Tanzania His Excellency John
Magufuli adopted to contain the spread of Covid-19 in his country,” Dr Moyo
said.
Dr
Mutodi is the National Assembly Member for Goromonzi West constituency after
being elected to Parliament in 2018 on a Zanu-PF ticket.
Prior
to his career in politics, the 42-year-old legislator was National Housing
Development Trust (NHDT) managing director.
He also ventured into music. – The Herald
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