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Harare Bureau
President Mugabe yesterday appointed a 26-member Cabinet that will be sworn in at State House today before it resumes duty.
The inclusive Government had 33 Cabinet Ministers, a move that was meant to accommodate members from the different political parties.The appointment comes 40 days after the harmonised elections that were won resoundingly by President Mugabe and Zanu-PF.
Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda, yesterday announced the new appointments at State House.
Professor Jonathan Moyo returns as Minister of Media, Information and Broadcasting Services and is deputised by Cde Supa Mandiwanzira while Cde Patrick Chinamasa has been appointed Finance Minister. He is deputised by Cde Samuel Undenge.
Cde Sydney Sekeramayi is the new Minister of Defence and has no deputy while Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa has been assigned to the Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs portfolio, deputised by Cde Fortune Chasi.
Cde Dzikamai Mavhaire is the new Energy and Power Development Minister deputised by Cde Munacho Mutezo while Cde David Parirenyatwa bounces back as Health and Child Care Minister and is deputised by outgoing Zimpapers board member Dr Paul Chimedza.
Cde Walter Chidhakwa takes over from Dr Obert Mpofu as Mines and Mining Development Minister deputised by former Hwange Colliery managing director Cde Fred Moyo. Cde Mpofu is the new Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister. He is deputised by Cde Petronella Kagonye. Cde Simbarashe Mumbengegwi retains the Foreign Affairs Ministry deputised by Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa.
Dr Joseph Made retains the Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Ministry and has two deputy ministers. The deputy ministers are Cde Davis Marapira, who is in charge of Cropping, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development, and Cde Paddy Zhanda responsible for Livestock.
Dr Ignatius Chombo has been appointed Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister deputised by Cde Joel Biggie Matiza while Cde Kembo Mohadi retains the Home Affairs Ministry. He is deputised by Cde Ziyambi Ziyambi.
Cde Oppah Muchinguri is the new Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development Minister with Cde Abigail Damasane as her deputy while Cde Didymus Mutasa retains the Presidential Affairs Ministry.
Cde Webster Shamu has been moved to the Information, Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Ministry with Dr Win Mlambo as his deputy while Cde Walter Mzembi retains the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry deputised by Cde Walter Kanhanga.
Cde Francis Nhema is the new Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Minister taking over from Cde Saviour Kasukuwere who has been appointed Minister of Environment, Water and Climate. Cde Nhema is deputised by Cde Mathias Tongofa while Cde Simon Musanhu deputises Cde Kasukuwere.
Cde Lazarus Dokora has been elevated and is now the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education with Professor Paul Mavhima as his deputy while Dr Olivia Muchena has been appointed Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development. She is deputised by Cde Godfrey Gandawa.
Cde Sithembiso Nyoni retains the Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development Ministry deputised by Cde Noveti Muponora while Dr Douglas Mombeshora is the new Lands and Rural Resettlement Minister with Cde Tendai Savanhu as his deputy.
The Industry and Commerce Ministry has been given to Cde Mike Bimha with Cde Chiratidzo Iris Mabuwa as his deputy while Cde Nicholas Goche goes back to the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare deputised by Cde Tongai Muzenda. Cde Andrew Langa has been appointed Sports, Arts and Culture Minister. He is deputised by Cde Tabeth Kanengoni Malinga.
Cde Didymus Mutasa was retained as Minister of Presidential Affairs. The following were appointed Ministers of State in the Office of the President, Cde Simon Khaya Moyo (Senior Minister of State), Cde Flora Bhuka (Minister of State for Presidential Affairs) and Cde Josiah Hungwe (Minister of State for Liaising on Psychomotor Activities in Education). Cde Sylvester Nguni remains Minister of State in Vice President Mujuru’s Office.
President Mugabe also appointed Ministers of State for the 10 provinces in line with the new Constitution. These are Cdes Eunice Nomthandazo Moyo (Bulawayo), Miriam Chikukwa (Harare), Christopher Mushowe (Manicaland), Martin Dinha (Mashonaland Central), Simbaneuta Mudarikwa (Mashonaland East), Faber Chidarikire (Mashonaland West), Kudakwashe Bhasikiti (Masvingo), Cain Mathema (Matabeleland North), Abednigo Ncube (Matabeleland South) and Jason Machaya (Midlands).
Dr Sibanda said President Mugabe exercised his Constitutional right in appointing non Constituency members Professor Moyo, Dr Made, Cdes Chidarikire, Dinha and Dokora as ministers.
In an interview soon after his appointment Prof Jonathan Moyo said he was ready for his new mandate.
“With this appointment you feel like hitting the ground running. I am coming to do any assignment given by my boss. I am coming in as Team Zanu-PF and Team Zanu-PF has a captain,” he said.
Asked whether he will institute any media reforms, he said: “You do not reform anything that is not deformed. I will have to wait for my assignment.”
Cde Didymus Mutasa believes President Mugabe gave him the Presidential Affairs Ministry out of trust.
“I remained where I was. I did not grow up or grow down. I think the President trusts me the way I trust him too. We have come a long way together since 1963 and it is very difficult not to trust each other,” he said.
Cde Mavhaire said his appointment was a reward by the President to the people of Masvingo after the province won all the 26 seats.
“The fact that we got 26 out of 26 seats is a good testimony to say we tried our best. It is the people of Masvingo who demonstrated and corrected their mistakes. I am happy His Excellency, the President recognised the effort we put and rewarded us,” he said.
Cde Chombo said it was time to deliver services to the people across the country.
“This is a new situation, a new term in which we expect Zanu-PF to deliver because we have a very clear blueprint. People expect services. We really have to start running.”
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