Brighton Chiseva
MASVINGO – About 24 national assembly members from Zanu PF who won tickets to represent their constituencies at the just ended general elections are positioning themselves for possible appointment into the cabinet by the President elect Emmerson Mnangagwa who is set to be inaugurated next week, if all goes to plan.
At least seven ministers and deputy ministers made it to the previous government but it’s not clear whether ED will return them or replace some with the new faces that made it to the parliament.
The hot seat is the office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution which was held by Ezra Ruvai Chadzamira. Chadzamira managed to return his Masvingo West Constituency for the third time and has done quite a lot of development projects in the province using devolution funds.
He is probably one of the best ministers of state responsible for Provincial Affairs in the country, hence his reappointment may not come as a surprise. If the gods smile at him, Chadzamira may be even appointed into the cabinet.
Winston Chitando the Gutu Central legislator is also another minister who worked very hard, he was the Minister of mines and mining development and he did fairly well in the past five years as he tried to achieve his ambitious $12 billion economy.
Chitando is among the best ministers in ED’s previous government.
Professor Amon Murwira is one lucky guy – he was appointed minister of higher and tertiary education but there is really nothing much to write home about him except that his approach will destroy the quality of education in the long run.
However, he seem to have impressed ED by his 5.0 education system especially the innovation hubs, but their implementation is horrible. The idea that universities should eat what they kill is not only horrible but will weigh heavily on the quality of graduands universities produce in the next few years. The modular system is a story for another day.
It is not surprising to see Prof Murwira bouncing back but he is one of the worst ministers the higher and tertiary education had since independence.
Clemence Chiduwa of Zaka South constituency was the deputy minister in the previous government, but same as Prof Murwira there is really nothing to write home about him.
In fact Chiduwa and his boss Professor Mthuli Ncube will be remembered by many Zimbabweans for their finance policies and reforms inconsistencies. They were the most reliable duo in government who would introduce policies and reforms willy-nilly at the expense of ordinary citizens.
There policies were too elitist and they are the most unpopular among ordinary citizens. Thus the reason there were wild celebrations in Cowdray Park Constituency after Prof Mthuli lost the seat to CCC party, Chiduwa can only be appointed in the next government not based on competence but probably on connections.
Bikita District has been neglected for too long and it’s high time ED pays attention to it when he makes his next cabinet.
Bikita South’s MP elect Energy Mutodi is the most qualified from Bikita District. However, he was fired in the previous government where he was the deputy minister of information.
Mutodi who was representing Goromonzi South constituency then, was fired for his loud mouth. It might be difficult for ED to consider him unless if he has truly repented.
There is nothing much to talk about Deputy ministers Lovemore Matuke and Yeukai Simbanegavi but their reappointments maybe be as a result of power and personal attributes.
Simbanegavi is highly qualified having graduated with a Law degree recently to add on to her two other degrees but her boss Kirsty Coventry was the worst. Zimbabwe was banned from World Cup and AFCON during her time. Probably ED will give Simbanegavi a chance to run the ministry.
Davis Marapira was the Deputy minister of agriculture in the past government. Marapira was initially minister of state in the office of vice president but was moved after Kembo Mohadi resigned following his alleged sex scandals. Marapira moved from Masvingo North to Zaka Central where he secured the ticket to parliament. It seems Marapira enjoys being the son-in-law of the ZCC bishop Nehemiah Mutendi who is very influential, and as such he is likely to make it in ED’s next government.
However, there are new faces that are said to be academically qualifying to be appointed in the cabinet. Masvingo South’s MP elect Tanatsiwa Mukomberi, who is a PhD candidate is one of them as well as the Chivi South’s Felix Maburutse who is said to be coming from the intelligence department. Youthful Masvingo North MP elect Brian Mudumi also has chances considering the role he played in the Zim-China exchange programmes. Political analysts, however, said ED may choose to appoint only those loyal to him as he moves to consolidate power in Zanu PF.
“Chances are very high that ED is going to appoint those he really trust because he wants to consolidate power in Zanu PF. There are a number of his once loyalists who defected to the other faction because they are already preparing for life after ED therefore, there are likely going to be surprises as some usual faces are going to be missing in cabinet,” said one analyst.