SW Radio Africa (London)
Tichaona Sibanda
7 January 2009
Robert Mugabe has appointed eight cabinet ministers, to replace those who lost their seats during last year's harmonized elections.
The state-controlled Herald reported Wednesday that the appointments were temporary and added that Mugabe was expected to form an 'inclusive government' at the end of February.
The ZANU PF leader agreed in September last year to share power with the two formations of the MDC, but the agreement has stalled over a dispute over the allocation of cabinet posts.
Mugabe last week formally dismissed ministers who lost their parliamentary seats in the March vote. Analysts speculated the move was part of preparations for unilaterally naming a new government.
The MDC MP for Makoni Central John Nyamande, the legislator who defeated Patrick Chinamasa in the elections, was very critical of Mugabe's appointments saying; 'He just can't manage to reshape his government without courting disaster.'
Nyamande said it was infuriating that many under-performing ministers like Aeneas Chigwedere, Chinamasa and Joseph Made, remain in place despite grave doubts about their abilities.
'If you study Mugabe's reshuffles in the last eight years, they've all been disasters. People in his party say he is a man of political talents, but his reshuffles suggest otherwise,' Nyamande said.
A source told us many ZANU MPs have an axe to grind with Mugabe as a result of his botched reshuffles, as he religiously reappoints losing MPs back to cabinet. The source added this may encourage the predators circling around Mugabe to strike sooner rather than later.
Mugabe uses his executive powers to appoint his 'blue eyed boys' who've lost parliamentary elections to become a non-constituency MP or senator. Anyone outside parliament cannot be appointed a minister in Zimbabwe, so Mugabe uses his patronage system to reappoint those losing candidates back to cabinet, by first reappointing them as non-constituency MPs.
According to the Herald the Minister for Indigenisation and Empowerment Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana, has just been appointed the Acting Minister of Information and Publicity, taking over from Sikhanyiso Ndlovu.
Ndlovu failed to secure a House of Assembly seat in Pelandaba-Mpopoma where he represented ZANU PF in the March 2008 harmonised elections. He was without doubt, one of the most under-performing ministers in this past under-performing government
Mangwana is the Chivi Central MP and once acted as Minister of Information and Publicity following the death of Tichaona Jokonya in 2006.
The other appointments are: Defence Minister Sydney Sekeramayi as the acting Minister of Mines and Mining Development, taking over from Amos Midzi, who lost the Epworth seat to Eliah Jembere of the MDC-T.
Minister of Economic Development Sylvester Nguni is the acting Minister of Agriculture, following the departure of Rugare Gumbo. Gumbo lost in Zanu-PF primaries to former ZBC journalist Makhosini Hlongwane in Mberengwa East constituency.
The Minister of Small to Medium Enterprises Development, Sithembiso Nyoni, becomes the acting Minister of Women's Affairs, Gender and Community Development, taking over from Oppah Muchinguri. Muchinguri lost to Trevor Saruwaka in Mutasa Central constituency.
Mashonaland East Governor and Resident Minister Aeneas Chigwedere, remains the Minister of Education, Sport and Culture. Manicaland Governor and Resident Minister Christopher Mushohwe will continue as acting Minister of Transport and Communications.
ZANU PF chief negotiator and non-constituency senator Patrick Chinamasa is now the acting Minister of Finance, taking over from Samuel Mumbengegwi, who lost to former Masvingo governor, Josiah Hungwe in Zanu-PF primaries in Chivi Senate constituency.
Controversial former Agriculture minister Joseph Made, now a non-constituency senator, becomes the acting Minister of Water Resources and Infrastructural Development, taking over from Munacho Mutezo.
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Devastating riposte!
Dear oh dear.
Someone is a bit angry thismorning. And now Prem is a "Cunt", so classy. Wont be long before AllAfrica censors that no doubt. What do they say about name calling? Something done when a person has no argument and is down to his last childish resort?
Mugabe, the Butcher of Harare was never 'mandated' by the people of Zimbabwe. If you recall, he only received 43% of vote in the only election recognised as free and fair by the SADC and AU.
And trust me, Mugabe doesnt need people like Prem and myself to erase his 'heroic… [Read Full Text]
What a senseless post; it belongs in the sewer.
To the sewer it goes then. Tata, obscurantist.
Yet another post by shallowhead with nothing constructive to say. No points, no argument and no rebuttal. Can you please inform us why you think its senseless? Where was my logic lacking?
Damn good post awt.....the pox to Jabberwalk and his ilk
Fuzzy thinking, dude, and rubbish, to boot.
Operation shut them up in the City of an eye for an eye, HARARE.
See all comments (13).
Insead of naming ag. ministers, murderer Mugabe should quit power to spare Zimbos from furher sufferings under his bloodstained lunatic illegitimate rule. The more he clings to power, the more the country will move back in time. What a shame, falling from a hero status to an unwanted person worse that papa Duvalier & his banana republic!