ED cabinet the worst since independence: CCC

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The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) says the cabinet appointed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Monday was the worst since Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980 as it constituted “friends, family, loyalists and the least qualified”.

Mnangagwa retained the bulk of his previous team and brought in a few new faces who include some relatives, has sparked feverish debate.

Announcing the new cabinet on Monday at State House in Harare, a week after he was sworn in for a second term, Mnangagwa retained Mthuli Ncube, who will lead the re-named Finance and Investment Promotion ministry among other retained old guard.

Notable additions to the previous cabinet included Mnangagwa’s son Kudakwashe will deputise Ncube, while his nephew Tongai, has been appointed Tourism deputy minister.

But the Nelson Chamisa-led CCC party described the 26-member cabinet as “illegitimate” after it disputed last month’s poll results which declared Mnangagwa the winner with 52,6% of the vote against Chamisa’s 44%.

“This Cabinet is illegitimate as it is a product of a disputed election. By going ahead with announcing the appointments, Mr Mnangagwa has revealed what has come to be associated with his autocratic regime, a casual disregard of, and contempt for people’s voice. The Cabinet, like the just ended election, fails the credibility and legitimacy test,” CCC spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi said in a statement yesterday.

CCC further criticised Mnangagwa for expanding the Cabinet by reappointing old and tired loyalists which exacerbates concerns about the lack of commitment to fresh perspectives and innovative ideas within the regime.

“It is also concerning that to accommodate friends and family, Mr Mnangagwa has expanded the cabinet from the previous 22 to 26 ministries or government departments. The bloated cabinet raises serious questions about the regime’s commitment to using the nation’s resources prudently.”

Part of the old guard and loyalists who were retained include Monica Mutsvangwa (Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development), Sithembiso Nyoni (Industry and Commerce), Daniel Garwe (National Housing and Social Amenities) and Oppah Muchinguri (Defence), among others.

Loyalist Christopher Mutsvangwa was brought back into the Cabinet to lead the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs ministry.

Information permanent secretary Ndavaningi Mangwana yesterday defended Mnangagwa’s appointments on X (formerly Twitter) saying: “We are lucky when in the election of MPs, there are people with professional qualifications and good experience in the pool the President has to pick ministers from. If some of those happen to be related to him, that doesn’t disqualify them for nomination on that basis only. They are also Zimbabweans.”

Meanwhile, Mnangagwa yesterday revoked the appointments of John Paradza (Environment, Climate and Wildlife deputy minister) and Nokuthula Matsikenyere (Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister) as the two are not legislators.

Paradza is a Zanu PF candidate in Gutu West, where elections are yet to be held following the death of one of the candidates, Mutonho Mutonho, in an accident in June ahead of the August 23 and 24 elections.

The President can make seven appointments to ministerial positions of non-members of Parliament.

Previously, he could appoint five.

On Monday, Mnangagwa appointed nine instead of seven non-parliamentarians to ministerial positions.

They are Matsikenyere, Mthuli, Paradza, Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu (Environment, Climate and Wildlife), Oppah Muchinguri (Defence), Ziyambi Ziyambi (Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs), Amon Murwira (Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development), Anxious Masuka (Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development) and Kirsty Coventry (Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture).

Some Zimbabweans vented their anger on social media platforms, accusing Mnangagwa of rewarding his loyalists and family members.

Witwatersrand University-based political analyst Romeo Chasara said Mnangagwa’s appointments were somewhat a reaction and reflection of how he performed in last month’s election.

“He might have felt that bhora musango (protest vote) was at play. Nonetheless, there was no doubt that beyond the disputed election outcome, Mnangagwa would move swiftly to consolidate power, but doing so while sidelining or at the expense of a particular section in his party is quite dangerous, something that might come to haunt his political life very soon,” Chasara said.

“Probably this was the perfect opportunity after an election marred by irregularities for him to bring sanity in Zanu PF, instil a little confidence in a few hopefuls elsewhere by appointing well-deserving men and women to serve in his Cabinet. Lastly, this might be that own goal which might advantage the opposition.

“This is a Cabinet that does not inspire confidence at all. Some of the people appointed lack energy. I have nothing against Nyoni, but to appoint her to Industry and Commerce, what inspiration will she bring in a sector where you need to inspire confidence in investors? I have nothing against Mthuli, but Zimbabwe has a disaster in terms of the management of Treasury with a lack of accountability and government debt ballooning.”

University of London-based political expert Stephen Chan said Mnangagwa’s Cabinet lacks depth.

“It shows a marked lack of depth in the Zanu PF talent pool. Too many old faces have been recycled, and nepotism taints the younger faces. A party with so many new MPs should have done better. Ncube is re-appointed to the Finance ministry and, with him, one presumes all his old failed policies,” Chan said.

“He (Ncube) will be deputised by the President’s son who has absolutely no experience at all in national economic and financial planning. Any serious foreign investor would run a hundred miles away rather than express confidence in something that has nothing new, bold and expertise to offer.”

–NewsDay