HARARE, Zimbabwe
Zimbabweans have been left fuming following President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s shock Monday appointment of Frederick Shava as the new Foreign Minister.
Shava replaces the late
Sibusiso Moyo who succumbed to Covid-19 last month.
Before his latest
appointment, Shava was Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to the United Nations in New York,
the US.
His appointment is one
of several senior government officials made by Mnangagwa following the deaths
of several officials from Covid-19.
However, Shava’s
appointment, who is a former Labour Minister during the era of the late
President Robert Mugabe, has been met with disparaging remarks by ordinary
Zimbabweans.
In the early 1980s,
Shava was one of government ministers who were implicated of corruptly buying
vehicles from the state-owned Willowvale Motor Industries before reselling them
at double the market value in a scandal named Willowgate.
He was convicted and
sentenced to nine months in prison but was acquitted by Mugabe after spending
only one night in jail.
He was then posted as a
top diplomat to China and the UN.
However, Zimbabweans
feel it was improper for Mnangagwa to appoint Shava as minister in his Cabinet.
“Who thought the shadow
of the Willowgate Scandal would stretch so far? The bankruptcy and incompetence
of Zanu PF on full display! The same incompetent, looting ministers of the
1980s recycled to represent us on the global stage in 2021. Pathetic! WE NEED
NEW LEADERS,” said MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere.
Journalist Hopewell
Chin’ono added; “It is clear that not even a criminal conviction by the High
Court of Zimbabwe will stop a Zanu PF cadre from being a minister and running
the affairs of the country.”
Exiled former minister
and Zanu PF Politburo member, Jonathan Moyo described Shava as Mnangagwa’s
clansman and longtime sidekick.
“President Mnangagwa
has appointed his clansman and longtime sidekick, Frederick Shava, as foreign
minister. With this appointment and that of Felix Mhona as transport minister,
General Chiwenga is now the only coup soldier remaining in Cabinet, which is
now full of Mnangagwa homies!”
Tendayi Zanyama added
his voice saying; “What did we expect from Mnangagwa appointments when a
treasonous conflicted SB Moyo who announced the military coup was promoted to
foreign affairs minister? It’s automatic his replacement must be a criminal
too.”
United Kingdom-based
journalist Chofamba Sithole said top government officials have been looting
since the Willowgate scandal.
“Considering these guys
openly loot billions, Willowgate now looks no more scandalous than John Vuli
gate. It was mainly top officials buying cars from Willowvale Motor Industries
with their own money and reselling them for a profit. Now they loot through
RBZ, Command Agriculture etc!”
RBZ is the Reserve Bank
of Zimbabwe.
Taona Denhere said the
appointment of Shava epitomised the elite patronage, clientelism, pacting and
clansmanship.
“Better known as Chinhu
Chedu. Shava a Willogater corrupter, being rewarded as part of job for the
clansmen by ED (Mnangagwa). Recycling of misleadership deadwood. Whose
qualifying mark is to be corrupt.
Academic Pedzisayi
Ruhanya added “A new dispensation of the 1980s corruption scandal. Asi chii
nhai Varakashi!!”
However, presidential
spokesperson George Charamba defended Shava’s appointment as he was an
accomplished scholar.
“The incoming Minister
of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. He is an accomplished scholar with
a PhD in complex disciplines of Health Sciences. Amazing how before
Independence he had already mastered in Nematology and Parasitology!!! He
served as Minister of Labour. He served in Beijing as Zimbabwe’s Ambassador
before being redeployed to UN where he became President of ECOSOC, a key wing
of UN in charge of social and economic rights!” said Charamba.
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