Zimbabwe’s Mnangagwa gives key cabinet jobs to military figures.
” Kekekekekeke two weeks ago media portrayed them as freedom fighters . Now they are saying gukurahundists as if they didn’t know all along …hypocrisy or rather stupidity…sewage media .Their ‘tones’ have changed too and actually some are now even mentioning that this was a zanupf power struggle bend on pursuing personal agendas as if they didn’t know.I remember even texting and phoning Chiwenga to stop using our army for personal agendas.I wrote a lot against Chiwenga , crocodile and the march but well Iet me just have my last laugh as usual kekekekekeke seka hako wasu. Thank you so much Chiwenga and Mnangagwa for the very good lesson.Surely I will never stop standing up for what is right and standing up against what is wrong even if it means standing alone as usual.To the person who said at times a majority simply means that all the fools are on the same side thank you so much .The saying really inspires me and it always gives me the courage and confidence to proudly stand alone to speak truth only to always have the last laugh.Thank you God for using my voice to denounce what is wrong, the wisdom to know the difference and the courage to stand up for truth no matter what people say.Only the truth will set our nation free.
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President Emmerson Mnangagwa has named his cabinet, appointing senior military figures to high-profile positions.
Critics have said that it has dashed hopes of change in the country.
Mr Mnangagwa was inaugurated as president last week. He took over from Robert Mugabe who had been in power for 37 years.
Mr Mugabe stepped down after the army took control of the country, following a power struggle in the ruling party.
Thousands of people celebrated Mr Mugabe’s resignation as they hoped the failed economy would improve.
Some had hoped that President Mnangagwa would appoint members of the opposition to his cabinet, to form a transitional government until elections next year but this did not happen.
The appointments led government critic Tendai Biti to suggest that Zimbabweans were “wrong” to have hoped for change.”Up until now, we had given the putsch the benefit of the doubt. We did so in the genuine, perhaps naive view that the country could actually move forward. We craved change, peace and stability in our country. How wrong we were,” he said.
Many Zimbabweans celebrated the ousting of Robert Mugabe
Wilf Mbanga, a Zimbabwean journalist who lives in exile in South Africa, told the BBC that the new minister of agriculture Perence Shiri “was not known for his love of democracy”.
A minister who served in Mr Mugabe’s government, Jonathan Moyo, said the changes meant that Zanu-PF, the party which has governed Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, was “dead” and the military was now in charge.
Newspaper owner Trevor Ncube said the cabinet was “very disappointing”.
“Largely the same people that caused this crisis have been recycled. The honeymoon comes to an end and reality dawns. His concern seems to have been rewarding those who brought him to power and Zanu-PF unity,” he said.
Who are the most controversial new cabinet members?
Sibusiso Moyo, the general who became the face of the recent military takeover, is the new foreign minister.
In his announcement, he was at pains to deny that the military takeover was a coup so some will criticise his promotion to the cabinet.
He holds a PhD in International Relations and at one point was the leader of the elite military unit, known as the “green berets squad”.
The head of Zimbabwe’s air force, Perence Shiri, was named the minister of agriculture and land affairs.
He is notorious for having led the military operation against those seen as opponents of Mr Mugabe in Matabeleland in the early 1980s.
The operation, led by the North-Korean trained Fifth Brigade of the army, resulted in the killing of an estimated 20,000 civilians.
As lands minister, he will presumably be in charge of Zimbabwe’s controversial land reform programme.
This saw the seizure of thousands of farms owned by the white minority which had previously been in charge of the country. Critics say this wrecked Zimbabwe’s once thriving economy and led millions of Zimbabweans to leave the country to find work.
Aside from Maj Gen Moyo and Air Marshal Shiri, leaders of the powerful war veterans’ association, who pushed for Mr Mugabe to go after the military intervention, also got cabinet jobs.
Chris Mutsvangwa, who heads the group, is now in charge at the information ministry.
Critics say that Mr Mnangagwa has rewarded those whose actions led to him becoming president.
Why did the military intervene?
There was a power struggle over who might replace the 93-year-old president, with Mr Mnangagwa and Mr Mugabe’s wife, Grace, on opposite sides.
Mr Mnangagwa was accused of plotting to take power and Mr Mugabe sacked him as vice president .
Mr Mnangagwa fled Zimbabwe and the military intervened.
On 14 November, military vehicles rolled into Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, detaining Mr Mugabe and placing him under house arrest.
He agreed to resign and Mr Mnangagwa returned to a hero’s welcome and was made president.
Mr Mnangagwa has been part of the country’s ruling elite for decades, having been minister of defence, security and justice.
Despite pledging a “new democracy” for Zimbabwe, Mr Mnangagwa is still associated by many with some of the worst atrocities committed under Zanu-PF.
What’s next?
The two new vice-presidents have not been appointed yet.
The BBC’s Shingai Nyoka in Harare says all eyes are on the general who led the military takeover Gen Constantino Chiwenga.
Zimbabwean commentators are waiting to see whether he will be rewarded with a vice-presidency.
Source : BBC
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Cde Patrick Chinamasa, as the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning;
Cde Obert Mpofu, as the Minister of Home Affairs and Culture;
*Air Marshal Perrance Shiri,* as Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement;
Dr Lazarus Dokora, as Minister of Primary and Secondary Education;
Dr David Parirenyatwa, as the Minister of Health and Child Care;
Cde Kembo Mohadi, as the Minister of Defence, Security and War Veterans;
Cde Ziyambi Ziyambi, as Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs;
*Major General Sibusiso Moyo* , as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade;
Cde Kazembe Kazembe, as Minister of Sport, Arts and Recreation;
Dr Mike Bimha, as Minister of Industry, Commerce and Enterprise Development;
Cde July Moyo, as Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing;
Cde Sithembiso Nyoni, as Minister of Women and Youth Affairs;
Professor Amon Murwira, as Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Development;
Cde Supa Mandiwanzira, as Minister of Information Communication Technology and Cyber Security;
Professor Clever Nyathi, as Minister of Labour and Social Welfare;
Dr Joram Gumbo, as Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development;
Cde Winston Chitando, as Minister of Mines and Mining Development;
Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, as Minister of Environment, Water and Climate;
Cde Priscah Mupfumira, as Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry;
Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo, as Minister of Energy and Power Development;
Cde Chris Mutsvangwa, as Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services;
Cde Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, as Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Monitoring Government Programmes.
*Ministers of State for the Provinces*
Cde Angeline Masuku, as Minister of State for Bulawayo Metropolitan;
Cde Miriam Rutendo Chikukwa, as Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan;
Cde Monica Mutsvangwa, as Minister of State for Manicaland;
Cde Martin Tafara Dinha, as Minister of State for Mashonaland Central;
Cde Webster Shamu, as Minister of State for Mashonaland West;
Cde David Musabayana, as Minister of State for Mashonaland East;
Cde Ndabazekaya Giyilitshe Cain Mathema, as Minister of State for Matabeleland North;
Cde Abednico Ncube, as Minister of State for Matabeleland South;
Cde Josiah Dunira Hungwe, as Minister of State for Masvingo;
Cde Owen Ncube, as Minister of State for Midlands.
Dr Christopher Mushohwe, as Minister of State for Government Scholarships in the President’s Office.
*Deputy Ministers*
Cde Terence Mukupe, as Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Development;
Cde Davis Marapira, as Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement;
Professor Paul Mavima, as Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education;
Cde Victor Matemadanda; as Deputy Minister for War Veterans;
Cde Pupurayi Togarepi, as Deputy Minister for Youth Affairs;
Cde Joshua Malinga, as Deputy Minister for Social Welfare.
