Bennett needed to be replaced: Tsvangirai

By Nkululeko Sibanda

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC says the appointment of Seiso Moyo as deputy minister of agriculture was a “necessary evil” as party members felt unjustly treated by Zanu PF’s Joseph Made who has been at the helm of the ministry.

 

Tsvangirai personally made the decision to replace party treasurer Roy Bennett as the deputy minister of agriculture designate and other senior members endorsed the decision, MDC spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora said.

Mwonzora said Moyo’s appointment is aimed at addressing injustices perpetrated against MDC members and supporters by Made and Zanu PF. “The appointment of Moyo as deputy minister was activated by necessity,” said Mwonzora.

“There was a feeling that the party is not effectively represented in the ministry of agriculture.

“There were a lot of injustices that were being perpetrated by Made against the people of Zimbabwe who are not Zanu PF. Therefore, it is the anticipation of the party that Moyo will go in there and seek to correct those injustices,” said Mwonzora.

“With Moyo as the deputy minister, we believe we are going to see redresses in the distribution of inputs to all Zimbabweans in the country. It will no longer be a Zanu PF and Made’s prerogative to choose who benefits from the inputs given out by the government,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mwonzora said the MDC had finally informed Bennett of the decision to replace him with Moyo in the deputy agriculture ministry.

The Daily News reported earlier that Bennett, who is currently in the United Kingdom, had expressed shock at news that he was no longer the designate deputy minister of agriculture as has been the case for the last three years.

“We have informed him (Bennett) of the decision made. It is the prerogative of the Prime Minister to make appointments to Cabinet.” There was a felling that the party is not effectively represented in the ministry of agriculture. Daily News