The Zimbabwean

By Arnold Tsunga

18 September 2013

A few pointers on why Zimbabwe is doomed with the new “old” Cabinet.

A casual glance at the record of some of the new “old” cabinet ministers with power positions in government will show that the country is going nowhere and that the 31 July 2013 national election failure has potential for national calamity of proportions that are too ghastly to contemplate.

Defence Ministry: Sydney Sekeramayi

He is also a career politician who can not do anything other than being in parliament and cabinet. He has worked with the intelligence services and is one of those responsible for converting the intelligence services from being a national institution into a para-military and para-intelligence force that terrorises its own citizens and limits the enjoyment of freedoms and human creativity. His repressive instinct seems to come out of deep ignorance and cluelessness on how to overcome the country’s challenges and advance the country to compete globally. He is one of those including Dydimus Mutasa who believed that diesel could come out of a rock in Chinhoyi!

Homes Affairs Ministry: Kembo Mohadi

Mohadi has a strange history. He was one of those that was terrorized by Mugabe when he was still with ZAPU. He was arbitrarily arrested and detained for months in 1985. He was severely tortured by Mugabe’s police and intelligence and bitterly complained of this then. Dave Coltart and the then Lawyers Committee for Human Rights (US) have an excellent record of this. Somehow Mohadi seemed to have taken this personal tragic experience to be a lesson on how to run and lead the police force and treat other innocent and unarmed people. He has presided as Minister of Home Affairs at a time when the police force has had one of its worst records in terms of human rights violations. Under his watch two departments of the police force have degenerated into para military forces, the Law and Order Section and the Police Internal Security Intelligence (PISI) These two sections have corroded public confidence in the police force. They have become an extension of the military wing of Zanu (PF). PISI operates as Zanu (PF)’s machine to profile opponents and set them up for attacks and persecution while the Law and Order Section operates to give PISI teeth by providing the boots and manpower to demolish enjoyment of fundamental rights, free expression, association and movement. Thousands and thousands of innocent human rights activists, democracy activists and legitimate political opponents have suffered and continue to suffer under Mohadi’s oversight of the police and home affairs. Thank to ZLHR the full effect of Mohadi’s failure to professionalise our police force has not been felt. One of the most unfortunate results of Mohadi’s lack of leadership to professionalise the police force has been the culture of selective application of repressive law by the authorities and resultant corruption and impunity.

Information Ministry: Jonathan Moyo

He was Minister primarily responsible for the demise of free press. He presided over the enactment of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) and the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA). Under his leadership, we had the highest number of journalists arbitrarily arrested and detained; wrongfully dismissed and administratively punished; denied the right to practice journalism. We had VOP bombed, printing press bombed, newspapers such as Daily News banned. Judge Majuru was hounded into exile for ruling in favour of the Daily News and judge Nare received death threats. Attorney General rep’s house was raided following granting of bail to foreign journalists. Andrew Meldrum was declared a PI. He spews hatred and propaganda and has no desire for the country to prosper.

Finance Minister: Patrick Chinamasa

He presided over a period that resulted in serious public loss of confidence in the judiciary and justice administration. He personally presided over the purging of the judiciary working with such people as Chinotimba (now parliamentarian) to harass judges including the then Chief Justice Gubbay at the Supreme Court. His lack of leadership on the rule of law front resulted in the country recording the highest number of resignations from the judiciary and justice system, including judges, magistrates, Attorney Generals, law officers, prosecutors and others. He eroded the independence of the judiciary in many ways including, threats, withdrawal of security, public utterances, lack of resources, underpaying as well as an opaque selection, appointment and disciplining process that created patronage. He also starved constitutional commissions of resources to make them functional and relevant to society e.g the Human Rights Commission or the Anti-Corruption Commission or the Zimbabwe Election Commission.

As Minister of Finance he presided over Zimbabwe’s economic collapse and fostered a culture of economic impunity. He presided over the printing of the Z$ into extinction and failed to control an errant Reserve Bank Governor. The country experienced the highest inflation ever globally. Industries closed, agriculture collapsed, unemployment was at its highest nationally since during and post colonialism, public services stopped such as schools, hospitals, clinics.

He has lost in every election except this one where he benefitted from opposition disorganization that resulted in him barely scrapping through even though the combined vote of Dr Makoni and Sangandire in Makoni Central exceeded his. He sings for his supper and owes his survival to Mugabe’s patronage system. That is why he barks the loudest against Western imaginery ghosts even as his new portfolio needs him to be smarter when dealing with the international community. Just around his appointment instead of taking advantage of the goodwill expressed by the EU ambassador to dialogue on matters of governance, he set up the machinery to summon the EU ambassador and worked in collaboration with Jonathan Moyo to mount a serious attack on the EU at a time he should have been planning on an engagement strategy.

Local Government:

Ignatius Chombo

He has presided over the worst performance of service delivery by local authorities in the history of the country. He has taken it upon himself to disagree with the peoples choices for Mayors and councilors and wrongfully and unlawfully fired many mayors and councilors in order to instill fear in councilors, employ his own under the guise of special appointments. Mayors Mudzuri (Harare) and Brian James (Mutare) are a good examples. He is also believed to have corrupted many councilors. His divorce papers showed that his wealth is not commensurate with his income as he has many assets including immovable property in virtually every local government. His expansive personal wealth can only be explained on the basis of corrupt practices. As a result of poor services delivery, Zimbabwe experienced a cholera and other water borne diseases epidemic threatening the security of the rest of the SADC region. This may happen again. Many places in urban areas including Dangamvura-Chikanga have had no water since election results were announced. The confidence in the recovery of local governments has all but disappeared with this appointment which inspires absolutely no confidence at all. Chombo continues to use the Town Clerks and Council management to undermine elected councils and introduces a culture of impunity and lack of accountability at the local level. It is difficult to imagine how different revival plans for city’s under the MDC councils will be implemented when Chombo will use every opportunity to introduce disharmony between elected councils and council management if only to achieve political mileage for ZANU PF ahead of the next elections.

Transport Ministry:

Obert Mpofu

Believed to be easily one of the richest people even though demonstrably also one of the most underpaid. His wealth is believed to have come out of corrupt practices. He presided over the illicit trade in diamonds and other special minerals. Circumvented the fiscus in minerals revenue. Fostered the culture of economic impunity that currently pervades a section of society, the economic and political elite. Now we might as well kiss goodbye to the improvements of our roads and other transport infrastructure as his personal appetite for resources will compete with the national priorities.

Agriculture Ministry:

Joseph Made

He presided over the decline of Zimbabwe from being the bread basket of Africa into a basket case of Africa. He presided over a period of the worst national performance in agriculture pre, during and post colonialism. He personally designed and implemented a policy of expropriation of assets of disliked people without compensation. He manipulated a genuine grievance on land inequalities to convert it into political fodder to maintain ZANU PF in power and used people like Chinotimba, now his parliamentary partner to terrorise unarmed civilians and implement a racist policy and drive thousands of farmers and farm workers into abject poverty and homelessness that was aggravated by the operation murambatsvina (drive away the filth). He was believed to have stopped chickens imports from RSA and made the country to import from Brazil where he had financial deals. He is dangerous to the recovery of our agriculture.

Justice and Legal Affairs Ministry: Emmerson Mnangagwa

His claim to fame is shrewdness, ruthlessness and absence of mercy. He superintended over the genocide that took place in Matabeleland and Midlands in the early 1980s just after independence. The perpetrators are known. The victims are known. The perpetrators including him as bearing responsibility for such genocide roam the streets free. He is the ultimate epitome of national impunity for serious human rights violations. He seems to be going to stop at nothing to become the national president with such a horrific culture on governance, human rights and the rule of law. He is a dodgy character who is very secretive and with such an impunity driven background will not benefit from strengthening of the rule of law and institutions that are necessary for independent and impartial administration of justice and the law as well as to fully implement the principle of equality before the law.

Conclusion

It is clear therefore that this cabinet will not perform unless a miracle happens or there is a serious paradigm shift. It is a cabinet that has demonstrably presided over Zimbabwe’s spectacular collapse from being a leading nation in Africa into a laughing stock globally. It is a leadership that is generally corrupt and does not believe in strong systems and institutions. They believe in strong men. This creates a culture that is fertile for perpetuation of a corrupt system of government, where there is no good governance and no respect for human dignity and human rights. It’s a typically immediate-post-colonial frame of mind cabinet where the focus is historical and not the future of this country in the context of a changed and changing world.

News Day

By Victoria Mtomba

17 September 2013

Zimbabwe’s 13 universities annually churn out an average of 10 000 graduates a year.

But most of them have failed to secure employment due to the declining job opportunities in the formal job market, a situation that has constantly recurred over the past 10 years.

A snap survey by NewsDay, based on average enrolment figures for individual institutions, indicated that the combined total of last year’s graduates is pegged at nearly 10 000.

University of Zimbabwe and Midlands State University topped the list with 2 700 and 2 338 respectively.

The National University of Science and Technology had 1 450, Chinhoyi University of Technology 674, Bindura University 673, Women University of Africa 500 and Lupane 131 graduates.

The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstats) has no official statistics on jobless graduates, but has a compiled list of enrolment details.

Lack of opportunities to secure employment in the formal economy has forced most of them to resort to the informal trade, analysts say.

University of Zimbabwe’s business school Professor Tony Hawkins is on record as having said that Zimbabwe’s informal sector was playing a crucial role in reducing poverty and unemployment.

Many unemployed graduates say their qualifications are tailor-made for formal employment, but employment opportunities are just too few.

Zimbabwe’s curriculum was designed to train employees rather than employers or entrepreneurs, according to the Nziramasanga Commission.

Government set up the commission in 1999 to evaluate Zimbabwe’s educational requirements and observed that the national curriculum was inclined towards academics.

It recommended the introduction of vocational skills training in secondary schools.

This was done after realising that there was need to prioritise vocational skills as there were many pupils who were not academically gifted.

Educationists contend that following independence in 1980, government adopted a system designed to train pupils to be employees and this has, in the last decade, become irrelevant due to diminishing employment opportunities.

Twenty-five-year old Sharon Vengesai (not her real name) is a victim of this change.

After graduating with a Sociology, Gender and Development Studies degree from a local university in 2011, she has not been able to secure employment in line with her qualifications.

She finally had to settle for selling blankets and electronic gadgets at the Gulf Complex in Harare.

There were no jobs that suited her qualifications which she says are more in line with formal employment.

“With the type of our economy, I don’t think the education being offered by colleges is relevant because people are not doing jobs that they trained for.

For instance, I did Gender and Development Studies, but I am now a sales floor person. The curriculum of this country trains us to be employees instead of creating our own employment,” she said.

The country’s increasing informal economy has made formal “bookish” education irrelevant, according to observers pushing for a curriculum change. This is unlike the 1980s and early 1990s when almost all graduates were automatically absorbed into the formal job market.

Sharon, who earns $300 per month, works for a West African national. These foreigners now dominate Zimbabwe’s retail sector, offering employment to degreed locals.

“I decided to take the job so that I would not be idle at home,” she said.

Zimstats show that there was a total enrolment figure of 60 143 students in 2012 in the country’s 13 universities.

Former Education minister David Coltart said his attempts to reform the outdated curriculum were frustrated as his proposals for the wholesale adoption of the Nziramasanga recommendations found no takers.

“It was one of my frustrations. Although I wanted to make reforms, I faced obstacles. The curriculum is outdated as it is from 1986. With this informationa and communication technology environment, it is hopeless,” he said.

An educationist Francis Mashayamombe said: “Our problem as a nation is inertia and unwillingness to implement things,” he said.

Although it is now 14 years since the Commission put forward its recommendations, they are still valid in the context of the entrepreneurial drive that government is pushing for. In this drive, students are encouraged to aim to be employers rather than becoming employees.

Coltart said the new government should priorities a new curriculum if it is to curb joblessness. There is, however, a glimmer of hope, after government in February this year resolved to push for the requisite change.

A five-member team of senior consultants has already been commissioned to spearhead review in line with Nziramasanga recommendations, Coltart said.

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union president George Nkiwane said it was imperative for the inclusion of industrialists in crafting a relevant curriculum that will help students have their creative skills aligned to industry requirements.

“As long as the industrialists are not involved in the curriculum, we will continue to churn out graduates that are not relevant to the industries. Industrialists and officials from the education sector should sit down and come up with a curriculum that is relevant to the current job market demands,” he said.

This, he said, could be done through engagement with human resources experts in industry and curriculum developers and compare notes on what works best for the country.

After realising the need to provide jobs and create equal economic opportunities, the government early this year launched the Government Graduate Entrepreneurial and Employment Promotion Programme.

The programme will provide youths with entrepreneurial skills and on-the-job skills. The programmes earmarked for the projects include potato production, horticulture, livestock and cattle fattening projects value added agricultural projects.

Daily News

By Bridget Mananavire 

15 September 2013

HARARE - President Robert Mugabe’s appointment of 10 provincial ministers has come under fire with critics saying he is subverting the Constitution by bringing in provincial governors disguised as ministers.

Provincial governors were scrapped and replaced with elected chairpersons under a deal reached by President Robert Mugabe and his coalition partners during the inclusive government era.

The new Constitution stipulates that the provincial chairperson will come from the party with majority seats in that particular province and the chairperson must be elected by the provincial council.

But Mugabe, during his Cabinet announcement, named 10 ministers of State for the 10 Zimbabwean provinces, in what the MDC has slammed as the subversion of the new Constitution.

Mugabe named Eunice Nomthandazo Moyo as the minister of State for Bulawayo, Miriam Chikukwa for Harare, retained Christopher Mushowe in Manicaland, in Manicaland Central appointed Martin Dinha, in Mashonaland East Simbaneuta Mudarikwa, in Mashonaland West Faber Chidarikire, in Masvingo Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, in Matebeleland North Cain Mathema, in Matabeleland South Abednigo Ncube and in Midlands he appointed Jason Machaya to be minister of State for the province.

The national executive and the national council of Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC met in Harare on Friday and unanimously resolved  to resist Mugabe’s alleged attempt to circumvent and defeat the constitutionally well spelt-out principle of devolution of power to the provinces.

“The MDC has noticed that this subversion of the constitution is going to be a key feature of Mugabe’s presidency,” MDC spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora said. “To that end, the party resolved to fight by all means necessary all the attempts by Mugabe and Zanu PF to subvert the people’s Constitution.”

The smaller MDC led by Welshman Ncube was also taken aback by the appointment of provincial ministers of State by Mugabe.

David Coltart, the MDC  legal affairs secretary, said the appointment of 10 ministers of State for provincial affairs scuttles all hopes for devolution envisaged under the new Constitution.

He said it will cause duplication of roles as the lines would be blurred on who exactly “would be in charge of provinces, considering that there will be provincial councils”.

Lovemore Madhuku, a constitutional law expert, said all this is a consequence of the adoption of a bad Constitution. Madhuku, whose National Constitutional Assembly campaigned for a No vote in the constitutional referendum and lost, said the new charter was vague and gave Mugabe wide discretionary powers.

“Under Mugabe, the constitution will mean anything he wants it to mean,” Madhuku said.

“This Constitution is unclear, gives Mugabe a lot of powers.

“And with this whole appointment of ministers of State in the provinces,  there is no law stopping Mugabe from appointing any number of ministers.

“Clashing of duties between the provincial chairs and these ministers is another thing.”

Trevor Maisiri, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, devolution was facing a real and present danger.

“The appointment of ministers of State for provincial affairs has dashed hopes of decentralising power,” he said.

“Those provincial ministers will report directly to the President, hence their interaction with provincial councils or mayors of respective areas will be superficial. They will override every programme set to be taken in their respective provinces.”

Southern Eye

By Ronald Moyo

13 September 2013

VARIOUS national sports associations have welcomed the move for a separate sport ministry following the appointment of Andrew Langa as the Sport, Arts and Culture minister.

Previously sport fell under the Education, Sport, Arts and Culture ministry, headed by David Coltart. Ringisai Mapondera, the Zimbabwe Volleyball Association secretary-general told Southern Eye Sport that the ministry came when sport associations needed it most.

“We are very excited about the latest developments and we do hope that the incoming minister of sport will deal with the problems that national teams are facing.

“We now expect to see national teams getting financial support from the government, you can even ask the cricket team on how they are struggling to get their salaries just because the government does not support sport, but now that we have our own ministry, we are hoping for the best,” Mapondera said.

Mapondera pointed out that the men and women’s volleyball teams are preparing for next month’s Zonal World Cup qualifiers in Botswana and Zambia respectively and the association is in dire need of financial support.

Petros Masiyambumbi, the Zimbabwe Amateur Boxing Association technical director echoed the same sentiments.

“Sport will improve in the country because in the past, it has had no budget from the government; the Budget was only for education which hindered the operations of sport associations.

“We expect that very soon the ministry will ask for the budgets from associations, something that never happened before, something we needed most,” he said.

Leticia Chipanda, the Zimbabwe Netball Association spokesperson added: “We are happy about the ministry. We hope that the ministry will solve the problems the sport associations have been facing.”

Bulawayo Athletics Board chairperson Manuel Mpofu also praised the move.

“I think this is a blessing to all sport associations. We are now expecting a positive response to our problems from the ministry” he said.

Southern Eye

By Nduduzo Tshuma

13 September 2013

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe’s failure to appoint a minister in charge of State Security has raised speculation that he wants full control of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), with legal experts saying the Zanu PF leader was in breach of the Constitution.

The Security ministry has for long been regarded as key and Mugabe’s takeover implies that he personally wanted to direct operations there.

Bulawayo lawyer Matshobana Ncube said the Constitution made provisions that the President must appoint a minister in charge of the country’s intelligence services.

“The term ‘must’ in the legal language is a peremptory term that the President should appoint a minister responsible for any national intelligence services,” he said.

“The absence of that particular ministry is a violation of the Constitution.

“The absence of the ministry in charge of intelligence services means there is something amiss, as the intelligence service will not be accountable to anyone.

“There is a need for a ministry with a clearly spelt out portfolio that looks at the intelligence services.”

The ministry, which some see as part of the Zanu PF succession matrix, was previously under Sydney Sekeramayi.

By taking reins of the ministry, many speculate that Mugabe wants to influence succession politics in his party.

MDC secretary for legal affairs David Coltart said the absence of a State Security ministry was an area of concern in addition to the gender imbalance and provincial ministers of State.

“Unlike in the past, the Constitution now states that the President must appoint a minister responsible for State security,” he said.

“It raises a lot of interest why a State Security minister was not appointed. The Constitution spells out that the head of the intelligence services needs to be transparent and accountable and should not be biased towards any political party.”

Senior analyst in the Southern Africa International Crisis Group, Trevor Maisiri, said Mugabe wanted to consolidate the loyalty of the State intelligence services under him as an individual.

“Contrary to claims by some that Mugabe will leave office after elections, the appointments indicate that he wants to rule for the full five years of his term,” he said.

“He wants the State security services to be accountable to him as an individual.

“The shuffling of Cabinet posts also shows that Mugabe does not want either of the warring factions to get any advantage.

“The Defence, Finance and Mines ministries have been given to Mugabe loyalists.”

The political analyst said Mugabe needed the intelligence’s loyalty, particularly to gather information on what is happening within Zanu PF, the country and abroad so as to maintain his position.

“It is a critical issue to control the CIO,” he said.

“He defies the Constitution because it makes provisions that the President has to appoint an Intelligence Services minister, who will be accountable to the State,” Maisiri said.

No comment could be obtained from Mugabe’s spokesperson, George Charamba, as his mobile phone was unreachable.

Southern Eye

Letter to the Editor by Engelmar Amon Sibanda

12 September 2013

DAVID Coltart was a Senator in Bulawayo and Education minister. It is amazing how people can fall in love with one person. The love many people have for Coltart is beyond description.

He is a resident in Bulawayo, but people from Harare, Masvingo and all over the country are praising him for what he did for Zimbabwe’s education.

One friend said to me if he had his way, he would put Coltart in a basket, carry him to President Robert Mugabe and say: “Here, take him and reappoint him Education, Sport, Arts and Culture minister.”

This shows what people hoped would happen. It’s interesting how there is so much love for the man across the political divide. When he was appointed minister, he put aside politics and worked efficiently while the whole lot of ministers continued politicking right to the end of their terms.

Coltart was hardworking. I hope all newly-appointed ministers will forget about politics and focus on their mandate.

Southern Eye

By Nqobile Bhebehe

12 September 2013

THE appointment of Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs by President Robert Mugabe has all but effectively suppressed devolution of power, a concept enshrined in the new Constitutions, the opposition MDCs have warned.

On Tuesday, Mugabe picked 10 members of his party and appointed them ministers for each of the country’s provinces, raising fears that these were equivalent to governors the new Constitution had done away with.

MDC legal affairs secretary David Coltart said the appointment of the ministers would create leadership hierarchy challenges in provinces.

“I was totally surprised by the appointment of 10 Ministers of State for Provincial affairs,” he said.

“The end result is that devolution is no longer feasible.

“This will cause problems as to who would be in charge of provinces, considering that there will be provincial councils.”

Coltart said although the President was not restricted on the number of ministers he could appoint, the 10 resident ministers would be an extra cost.

MDC-T secretary-general Tendai Biti recently said devolution of power would be among Zanu PF’s first casualties as the party was heavily opposed to the concept.

“Since the old governors were, in fact, resident ministers, Mugabe will simply appoint a group of what he will call resident ministers,” he warned.

“Once this is done, it will be the effective end of devolution as designed by the Constitution.

“Of particular challenge is the speed with which the new provincial governance law necessary to give effect to devolution is enacted.”

Trevor Maisiri, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, yesterday said these appointments would ensure that power remained centralised.

“Devolution is under severe threat,” he warned.

“The appointment of Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs has dashed hopes of decentralising power.

“Those provincial ministers will report directly to the President, hence their interaction with provincial councils or mayors of respective areas will be superficial. They will override every programme set to be taken in their respective provinces.”

Maisiri said the provincial councils were now a sub-structure of local government, rendering mayors redundant.

“As for the mayors from the opposition MDC-T, they have been rendered irrelevant before they assume office, more so in that the man who was constantly at loggerheads with local authorities controlled by MDC-T, Ignatius Chombo, is still heading the Local Government ministry,” he said.

Mugabe and Chombo openly resisted devolution during the constitution-making exercise saying it would divide the country on ethnic lines.

The clause was only included after intense horse trading between the MDC formations and Zanu PF.

The Financial Gazette

Maggie Mzumara

12 September 2013

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe’s appointments to the new Cabinet reflect a “worrying’ deviation from the new Constitution which does not inspire confidence in some sections of society.
Topping the list of the deviations is the gender composition of the Cabinet as well as the issue of devolution.
In a Cabinet of 26 members, only three women have been appointed.
“It is a mockery of the new Constitution which clearly states that there should be equal representation of women and men in public administration bodies at the national and local government levels,” said Virginia Muwanigwa, chairperson of Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe and director of the Humanitarian Information Facilitation Centre.

Muwanigwa said not only did this violate constitutional provisions, but it also went against what the ZANU-PF party’s own manifesto purported. 
“In light of the new Constitution, it sends out a message, unfortunately very clear, that women’s rights and gender equality are not among government priorities, despite what the political party manifesto says,” she said, adding, “It does not inspire confidence and while this relates to the provisions for women, it has implications on respect for guarantees on socio-economic and humanitarian issues contained within the Bill of Rights, not just for women but for all the people of Zimbabwe.”

Former minister of education, sport, arts and culture, David Coltart, told The Financial Gazette that President Mugabe’s disregard of constitutional provisions set a bad precedent. 
“I am concerned by the deviations from the Constitution. Clearly the objective of gender balance as provided for by Section 17, which must be read together with section 104 (4), has not been met,” Coltart said. “How is it going to be possible to ensure that this objective is met at other levels when Cabinet does not itself comply?”

Muwanigwa concurred, saying that the implication of under-representation of women in Cabinet was likely to be echoed in other bodies and institutions of governance. 
“We may yet see more reneging of the commitments to respect women’s rights to not only representation in other bodies still to be appointed, but absence from key decision making posts such as chairpersons of Parliamentary Portfolio Committees, commissions, among others,” she said.

While it may have been too much to hope for immediate adoption of the constitutional guarantees in full all at once, Muwanigwa said, “We would have wanted to see an increase in representation not lower than 30 percent and in light of the African Union Women’s Rights Protocol, closer to 50 percent.”

Gender balance was not the only point of deviation observed. Coltart said he was also concerned with the appointment of resident ministers as it impacted heavily on the move towards devolution, as provided for in the new Constitution.

“I am sure the President can appoint as many ministers as he likes but on the issue of the resident ministers what role are they going to play? Constitutional provisions in Chapter 14 and section 268 make provisions for provincial councils. It undermines the whole concept of devolution”

Southern Eye

By Southern Eye Reporter

11 September 2013

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe yesterday announced a surprise Cabinet that saw the return of Jonathan Moyo to the Information ministry.

Other notable names were moved to less fashionable ministries.

Moyo, who headed the Information ministry between 2002 and 2005, was a polarising figure within media circles and many blamed him for draconian laws like the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

The political science professor has in the past been accused of being responsible for overseeing the closure of the Daily News, the Tribune and the Weekly Times.

Moyo’s appointment could be an indication that his rehabilitation within Zanu PF has come full circle, following his axeing from government in 2005 over the so called Tsholotsho declaration.

In a surprise move, Obert Mpofu was shifted to the Transport ministry, which many feel is a demotion from the Mines ministry he held previously.

Another shocking “demotion” was that of Saviour Kasukuwere, who was moved from the influential Indigenisation ministry to the Environment, Water and Climate ministry.

Kasukuwere had come to embody the indigenisation policy that Zanu PF has been pushing and his movement came as a shock, as many thought he had succeeded in that regard.

Francis Nhema, considered a moderate, has been moved to the Indigenisation ministry, another surprise as in the past his forte was environment and tourism.

Former Defence minister Emmerson Mnangagwa was moved to the Justice ministry, which despite being powerful, may dent his chances in the Zanu PF succession matrix.

The 89-year-old leader also split the Education, Sport, Arts and Culture ministry into two.

Insiza North MP Andrew Langa was appointed to head the Sport, Arts and Culture portfolio while Lazarus Dokora is the new Education minister.

Mugabe also reserved the biggest shock for last, appointing 10 ministers of State for Provincial Affairs, a move likely to undermine the Provincial Councils that were created by the new Constitution.

Eunice Sandi-Moyo, Abednico Ncube and Cain Mathema were appointed Ministers of State for Bulawayo, Matabeleland South and North, respectively.

For Masvingo and the Midlands, Mugabe appointed Kudakwashe Bhasikiti and Jason Machaya, respectively.

However, former Education minister David Coltart has raised the red flag saying there were too few women appointed and this could be in contravention of the Constitution.

“There are only three women in the new Zimbabwean Cabinet, but Sections 17 and 104 of the Constitution state there must be gender balance in Cabinet,” he said on microblogging site, Twitter.

Commenting on the appointments, political analysts said the new ministers should be given the benefit of the doubt and see how they would perform.

“Moyo, who has a track record of bringing development to Tsholotsho, together with Cain Mathema and others, should be given credit for initiating and spearheading the establishment of Lupane State University in Matabeleland North Province,” Methuseli Moyo, a veteran journalist, said.

“The university is a landmark development for the province.

“Langa and (Simon) Khaya-Moyo should be rewarded, as they worked hard to win support for Zanu PF, as Matabeleland South provincial chairman and national chairman respectively.”

A Gweru-based political analyst, Nhamo Mhiripiri, said the ministers were political and intellectual leaders who should rise above petty and narrow regional interests and work for the whole nation.

“As ministers, there are high benchmarks which they should achieve nationally,” he said.

“They should work for national development.”