Mugabe reshuffles cabinet…. third time in 9 months
HARARE – President Mugabe on Friday reshuffled Cabinet, with five ministers and 10 deputy ministers being sworn-in. Two deputy ministers were dropped, while three ministers were reassigned at a ceremony held at State House in Harare.
Mugabe made changes to his cabinet for the third time in nine months, naming new ministers for information, indigenisation, transport and macroeconomic planning. The appointments follow the death and reassignment of some ministers and the dismissal of others linked to former Vice President Dr Joice Mujuru.
Mugabe appointed his nephew Patrick Zhuwao as the Youth Development, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Minister, taking over from Christopher Mushohwe who is the new Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister.
The Information, Media and Broadcasting Services ministry was left vacant following the demotion of Professor Jonathan Moyo to the Higher Education, Science and Technology Development portfolio a few weeks back.
Zanu-PF Chief Whip Joram Gumbo is the new Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, taking over from Obert Mpofu who was reassigned to the newly-created Ministry of Macro-Economic Planning and Investment Promotion.
Mberengwa East National Assembly member Makhosini Hlongwane was appointed Minister without Portfolio, while former Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs Minister Abednigo Ncube is now Minister of Rural Development and Preservation of National Cultural Heritage.
However, Ncube failed to attend yesterday’s ceremony.
The ministers and deputy ministers were sworn-in in terms of Sections 104 (1) and 104 (2) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
The ceremony was attended by Vice Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko and several senior Government officials.
Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda said the President had split the Ministry of Local, Government, Public Works and National Housing when he created the Ministry of Rural Development and Preservation of National Cultural Heritage.
“It has to be noted that His Excellency the President has also split into two ministries the current Ministry of Local, Government, Public Works and National Housing: Rural Development and Preservation of National Cultural Heritage, which includes the administration of chiefs and Local Government, Public Works and National Housing without Rural Development and Administration of Chiefs,” he said.
Dr Sibanda also said the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture had also been reconfigured to be the Ministry of Sport and Recreation with the Culture aspect being transferred to the Rural Development and Preservation of National Cultural Heritage Ministry.
Simon Khaya Moyo was reassigned from the Ministry of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion to the new Ministry of Policy Coordination and Promotion of Socio-Economic Ventures in the President’s Office.
Former Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Tabetha Kanengoni-Malinga who was reassigned to be the Minister of State in the Office of Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko, also took her oath of office and loyalty together with Clifford Sibanda who is the Minister in the Office of Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Edgar Mbwembwe is the new Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Obedingwa Mguni (Deputy Minister Home Affairs), Berita Chikwama (Deputy Minister Lands and Rural Resettlement), Christopher Chingosho (Deputy Minister Local Government, Public Works and National Housing), Michael Madanha (Deputy Minister Transport and Infrastructural Development), Aldrin Musiiwa (Deputy Minister Health and Child Care) and Thokozile Mathuthu (Deputy Minister Information, Media and Broadcasting Services).
Other Deputy Ministers that were appointed include Colonel Tshinga Dube (Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborators and Former Political Detainees), Annastasia Ndlovu (Tourism and Hospitality Industry), Tapiwanashe Matangaidze (Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare) while former Deputy Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa was reassigned to be Deputy Minister Macro-Economic Planning and Investment Promotion.
Former deputy ministers Ziyambi Ziyambi (Home Affairs) and Brigadier General Walter Kanhanga (Retired) (Tourism and Hospitality Industry) were dropped.
