Zimbabwe’s President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, yesterday announced his new cabinet line-up, but the appointments have sparked controversy as some of his family members have been given prominent positions within the government.
One notable appointment is Mnangagwa’s son, Kudakwashe David Mnangagwa, who has been named as the deputy minister of finance. It is worth mentioning that Kudakwashe Mnangagwa secured his position as the Zanu-PF youth quota MP in the Midlands province, where candidates aged 21-35 are chosen based on proportional representation.
In another appointment that has raised eyebrows, Mnangagwa has appointed his nephew, Tongai Mnangagwa, as the deputy minister of tourism. This decision comes alongside the controversial choice of Barbara Rwodzi as the minister of tourism. Rwodzi faced criticism in June when she verbally attacked a senior police officer who was investigating Zanu-PF activists for political violence.
Despite criticism of his economic policies, Mnangagwa has retained Mthuli Ncube as the finance minister. Ncube has struggled to revive the country’s economy, with the Zimbabwean dollar continuing to weaken and inflation reaching alarming triple-digit figures.
Kirsty Coventry, who has been reappointed as the sports minister, has also faced criticism for her performance.
When questioned about his decision to reappoint Coventry, Mnangagwa defended his choice, stating his satisfaction with her performance. He added that those who were dissatisfied with her could select a different candidate when they assume the presidency.
It is worth noting that the cabinet lacks representation from opposition parties. Mnangagwa justified this decision by stating that the opposition would prefer to fulfil their role as a counterforce rather than share the responsibility of governance.
“The opposition would enjoy to be in actual opposition, rather than be in government then fail to do their opposition,” said Mnangagwa.
In the health sector, Douglas Mombeshora has been named as the new minister of health, relieving Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga of his dual role.
While these cabinet appointments have attracted criticism and raised concerns about nepotism and underperformance, President Mnangagwa stands by his choices, emphasizing his satisfaction with the appointed individuals. The absence of opposition members in the cabinet further highlights the prevailing political landscape in Zimbabwe.
