The Sunday Mail
President Mugabe reshuffled his Cabinet on Monday to re-energise his ministers as Government’s full attention remains on socio-economic transformation, The Sunday Mail has established.
President R G Mugabe
Impeccable Government sources told this newspaper that indications were the Head of State and Government wants the economy to top the Cabinet agenda.
The sources said each ministry’s work output was being measured against objectives of the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation.
As such, it was important to reinvigorate and prime all ministers towards improving the livelihoods of Zimbabwe’s citizens.
Zim-Asset is hinged on key deliverables, among them infrastructure development, housing, increased food production, value addition, research and development and employment-creation.
It also supports SMEs, which have formed major employment hubs mostly in urban centres countrywide.
One source said, “While people are preoccupied with succession politics and trying to interpret everything the President does along such lines, the President is himself preoccupied with the economy and livelihoods.”
Another added: “People read what they want into anything President Mugabe does, but our understanding is that progressive policy matters are at the forefront of his Cabinet agenda.”
President Mugabe mandated Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko to enforce policy implementation in addition to his National Healing and Reconciliation duties.
Professor Jonathan Moyo was reassigned from the Information, Media and Broadcasting Services portfolio to the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development; taking over from Minister Oppah Muchinguri who was appointed to the Environment, Water and Climate brief to replace Minister Saviour Kasukuwere.
Minister Kasukuwere is now in charge of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.
Public Service, Labour and Social Services Minister Prisca Mupfumira is Acting Information Minister; while Dr Ignatius Chombo and Minister Kembo Mohadi now head Home Affairs and National Security, respectively.
Cde Nyasha Chikwinya was appointed Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development Minister portfolio, and Brigadier (Retired) Ambrose Mutinhiri took over as Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs Minister from Cde Joel Biggie Matiza who is now Zanu-PF’s chairman for that province.
Though some sections of the media tried to criticise the appointments, politics and governance experts said the reshuffle would give policy-implementation impetus to Cabinet activities in the concerned briefs.
Former Cabinet minister and Zanu-PF Politburo member Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu said each appointee could contribute meaningfully to national development.
“The so-called analysts give the impression that the President does not know what he is doing and nothing positive is ever said about him. Some even think that Cabinet positions are campaigned for to influence the President on who to appoint and to what ministerial position.
“Appointments are the prerogative of the President; that is why some analysts’ predictions have always fallen flat. Each appointee has unique potential to contribute towards the given assignment. We should, therefore, give them a chance to do their work.
“On Professor Jonathan Moyo’s appointment to the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, some short-sighted analysts call it demotion. Instead, it should be regarded as a promotion, considering the magnitude, academic and scientific complexity of national youth intellectual development for the present and the future of the nation.”
A Harare-based economist who preferred anonymity said giving VP Mphoko the responsibility to enforce policy implementation demonstrated President Mugabe’s resolve to get Government initiatives moving.
“For some time, the issue of implementing policy and agreed programmes has been our problem as a nation. So, the fact that the President has appointed such a senior person as the VP to head these duties, shows that the economy is uppermost on his mind.
“We can come up with all the good ideas we can imagine, but without implementing them, we will be back at zero. Therefore, the reshuffle will certainly see Government moving on major programmes.”
National University of Science and Technology lecturer Dr Lawton Hikwa said the reshuffle would see fresh ideas flowing.
“The higher education sector is happy with the appointment of Professor Jonathan Moyo because he is an academic of note and his background will resonate well with the sector.
“In local government, His Excellency saw it fit to replace Dr Chombo because he had stayed in that capacity for long and there was need for fresh ideas. The general feeling is that the reshuffle is just what the doctor ordered.”
Affirmative Action Group financial advisor Mr Collen Kwaramba said Minister Kasukuwere was the right man to bring sanity to national housing, which has been plagued by bogus housing co-operatives and rampant criminality.
He said, “Tyson (Minister Kasukuwere’s nickname) has been the man known to be hands-on and proactive. So, I think it was a very wise move to bring him to the Ministry of Local Government. I am sure he will restore order on the issue of housing, where thousands of people have been duped through bogus housing co-operatives.”
