PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday pulled a shocker
when he dropped several Zanu PF party bigwigs, some who had served as Cabinet
ministers for several years, and appointed three technocrats — former banker
Mthuli Ncube as Finance minister, Winston Chitando and Amon Murwira (who both
bounced back as Mines and Higher Education ministers respectively) — at the
helm of his government’s plans to rescue the country’s battered economy.
Chief Secretary to the Office of the President and Cabinet,
Misheck Sibanda announcing the new Cabinet appointees at State House yesterday
Analysts, however, described Mnangagwa’s new 20-member
Cabinet as largely uninspiring, as it was still dominated by recycled old
guards who served in former President Robert Mugabe’s administration.
The axe fell on long-serving ministers; Patrick Chinamasa,
Obert Mpofu, Simon Khaya Moyo, David Parirenyatwa, Supa Mandiwanzira, Mike
Bimha, Petronella Kagonye, the majority of whom played a pivotal role in his
ascendancy to power following last November’s soft coup against Mugabe.
Mnangagwa, however, made some surprise picks, with
musician-cum-politician Energy Mutodi deputising Monica Mutsvangwa in the
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services ministry, while swimming
sensation Kirsty Coventry landed the Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation
ministerial post.
Other surprise entrants were Mangaliso Ndlovu and Sekai
Nzenza, who were appointed Industry and Commerce, and Public Service, Labour
and Social Welfare ministers, respectively.
Long-time Mnangagwa ally and Zanu PF national chairperson
Oppah Muchinguri became the country’s first female Defence minister, while July
Moyo and Sibusiso Moyo retained their Local Government and Foreign Affairs
portfolios, respectively.
Former Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs minister Cain
Matema bounced back as Home Affairs minister, as Perrance Shiri retained his
Agriculture portfolio, which has now been expanded to include Climate Change
and Environment tasks.
Another Mnangagwa ally, Joram Gumbo, was reassigned from
Transport to the Energy ministry, as Prisca Mupfumira retained her Tourism
portfolio.
Parirenyatwa was replaced by Obadiah Moyo, former head of
Chitungwiza Central Hospital, while Kazembe Kazembe was moved from Sports to
ICT, replacing Mandiwanzira.
Joel Biggie Matiza bounced back into government and
replaced Gumbo as new Transport minister, while Ziyambi Ziyambi remained
Justice minister.
However, analysts yesterday cast aspersions over
Mnangagwa’s new Cabinet’s capacity to turn around the fortunes of the economy,
arguing that the Zanu PF leader had made cosmetic changes and failed to trim
government bureaucracy.
Mnangagwa appointed 13 deputy ministers, who include Victor
Matemadanda (Defence), Jennifer Mhlanga (Local Government), Lovemore Matuke
(Public Service, Rajeshukumar Modi (Industry), Edgar Moyo (Primary and
Secondary Education), Douglas Kasoro and Vanelis Harritatos (Lands), Polite
Kambamura (Mines), Magna Mudyiwa (Energy), Fortune Chasi (Transport), Jerifan
Muswere (ICT) and Yeukai Simbanegavi as the new Sports deputy minister.
The Zanu PF leader, who beat MDC Alliance leader Nelson
Chamisa in the July 30 disputed polls, also appointed nine provincial ministers
as he also dropped some of his top allies Josaya Hungwe and Owen Ncube.
Judith Ncube took over as Bulawayo Provincial Affairs
minister, Mary Mliswa (Mashonaland West), Apolonia Munzverengi (Mashonaland
East), Monica Mavhunga (Mashonaland Central), Ellen Gwaradzimba (Manicaland),
Larry Mavhima (Midlands), Ezra Chadzamira (Masvingo), Abednico Ncube
(Matabeleland South) and Richard Moyo as Matabeleland North minister.
Mnangagwa is still to appoint the Provincial Affairs
minister for Harare.
Former Finance minister and opposition leader Tendai Biti
said although the new Treasury boss was a respected financial guru with the
capacity to turn around the economy, it remains to be seen if Mnangagwa would
give him political space to fully execute the “good vision he might have”.
“I feel pity for Mthuli Ncube. He has the technical ability
to run a disciplined economy, but I don’t see him having that stamina to
control Zanu PF’s appetite of uncontrolled expenditure. The appetite to steal
is so pronounced in Zanu PF and definitively agents of doom in the corridors of
power will work against him. I don’t see him being able to withstand the
corruption in Zanu PF. One good thing which we all must celebrate is the
departure of Patrick Chinamasa, he was the worst minister of Finance we have
ever seen,” he said.
“We need to celebrate the departure of Obert Mpofu as well
as the likes of Supa Mandiwanzira. It is good riddance, and they belong to
Chikurubi (Maximum Security) Prison. But generally, expecting anything from
Zanu PF is a dead hope. They are just incompetent and corrupt.”
Harare-based independent economist John Robertson said
Mnagagwa’s choice sounded “very encouraging, especially on the choice of
Finance minister”.
“That’s a very good foundation for the country’s economic
recovery prospects,” he said. “I hope the President will permit those ministers
to exercise their skills without interference.”
Ncube (55) is a former chief economist and vice-president
at the African Development Bank (AfDB) and was also a lecturer in finance at
the London School of Economics and Wits Business School in South Africa.
He founded Zimbabwe’s Barbican Bank and asset management
company, which were, however, put into administration by the central bank in
2005 after only two years of operations.
The bank’s licence was later cancelled.
Ncube will be tasked with crafting an economic recovery
programme as well as coming up with strategy to pay off Zimbabwe’s $1,8 billion
arrears to the World Bank and AfDB.
Denford Mutashu of the Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers
said Ncube had the capacity to deliver provided that there was political will
and support from other government bureaucrats.
“We are hopeful that at least we have a new Minister of
Finance whom we think and hope can instil discipline in a government that has
been enjoying uncontrolled spending,” Mutashu said.
“The big issue is that he is not in Zanu PF structures,
hence we think he could show some power and ability to regulate expenditure. He
has a reputation to protect.
“He is one person who has no scandals to deal with. We are
also happy with the mixture of the youth in the Cabinet, they will learn from
the experienced and infuse new ideas. We hope the old guard in government will
allow fresh ideas to run through and ensure that we have economic development.”
War veterans spokesperson Douglas Mahiya said they were
happy with the appointment of Muchinguri and Matemadanda in the Defence
ministry, saying they had a better appreciation of issues affecting the
security sector.
“We are delighted with the appointment of Cde Oppah
Muchinguri and Victor Matemadanda to be responsible for our welfare. These two
people have been with us for a very long time and appreciate our plight,”
Mahiya said.
“We know that our concerns and those of our people are well
represented by these two. Cde Matemadanda has been through the trenches with us
and we are quite happy that he will carry our story and ensure we have land, we
have mines as well as our social being.” Newsday
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