Zimbabwe president blends new and old in his cabinet

By Vanessa Gonye, HARARE Zimbabwe

President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday announced his new Cabinet, retaining several ministers who served under him for the past five years.

Announcing the new Cabinet at State House in Harare, a week after he was sworn in for his second term, Mnangagwa retained Mthuli Ncube, who will lead the re-named Finance and Investment Promotion ministry.

Most notable of the old guard were Oppah Muchinguri (Defence), who previously led the Defence and War Veterans ministry; July Moyo (Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare), who was shuttled from the Local Government and Public Works portfolio; Sithembiso Nyoni (Industry and Commerce), who previously led the Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development portfolio.

Christopher Mutsvangwa was brought back into Cabinet to lead the Veterans of Liberation Struggle Affairs ministry, while his wife Monica was moved from the Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services ministry to head the Women’s Affairs ministry, where she will be deputised by Jennifer Mhlanga, who previously deputised July Moyo at Local Government.

Frederick Shava retained the Foreign Affairs and International Trade portfolio), Kazembe Kazembe was not moved from the Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage ministry, so was Amon Murwira (Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development), Daniel Garwe (National Housing and Social Amenities) and Felix Mhona (Transport and Infrastructural Development).

Garwe will be deputised by Yeukai Simbanegavi, who held a similar position in the previous Cabinet.

Zanu PF secretary for security Lovemore Matuke was appointed Minister of State responsible for Provincial Affairs in the Office of the President and Cabinet.

Chikomba West legislator Tatenda Mavetera, who led Mnangagwa’s campaign through the Young Business Women for ED, was rewarded with the Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) ministry.

Some Cabinet ministers retained their positions, while others had their portfolios re-configured.

Kirsty Coventry was retained in Cabinet, but her ministry was reconfigured from Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation to Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture.

Nqobizita Mangaliso Ndlovu’s Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry ministry was reconfigured to Environment, Climate and Wildlife, while Tourism and Hospitality was given to Barbara Rwodzi, who was Ndlovu’s deputy in the previous Cabinet.

Mnangagwa retained the team at the Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development ministry led by Anxious Masuka and his deputies Vangelis Haritatos and Davis Marapira.

Besides Monica, the others who were reassigned were Winston Chitando, who was moved from Mines and Mining Development to Local Government and Public Works; Jenfan Muswere was shuttled from ICT to Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services; Soda Zhemu who was moved from Energy and Power Development to Mines and Mining Development, whereas Paul Mavima was moved from Public Service, Labour and Social welfare to an altogether new ministry, Skills Audit and Development.

New members of the Cabinet include Tino Machakaire, who was promoted from being Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation deputy minister to head the Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training ministry; Rwodzi who was also promoted to head the Tourism and Hospitality portfolio; Torerai Moyo who is the new Primary and Secondary Education minister and replaces Evelyn Ndlovu, who was moved to be Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution minister; Edgar Moyo who takes over from Zhemu at the Energy and Power Development ministry and former Lands minister Douglas Mombeshora, who has taken over the Health and Child Care ministry from Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga.

However, Mnangagwa caused controversy after announcing two of his blood relatives, David Kudakwashe Mnangagwa (his son) and Tongai Mnangagwa (his nephew), as deputy ministers for Finance and Tourism, respectively.

He promoted Zanu PF deputy national secretary for youth affairs John Paradza to the Environment ministry, where he will deputise Ndlovu.