While President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose government is battling to turnaround Zimbabwe’s economic fortunes last week reshuffled his cabinet, it remains to be seen if ever that exercise would bring any improvement to the suffering Zimbabweans.
In a cabinet reshuffle last Friday, President Mnangagwa reassigned four ministers, appointed seven deputy ministers while a former deputy minister was elevated.
The President also divided into two the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, to create a new ministry named National Housing and Social Amenities.
Murehwa North Constituency MP Daniel Garwe has been appointed minister of the new portfolio, with July Moyo maintaining the Local Government and Public Works ministry.
Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu was moved from Industry and Commerce to replace sacked Prisca Mupfumira as the new Minister of Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality Minister.
Sekesai Irene Nzenza is now the new Minister of Industry and Commerce, moving from the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.
Paul Mavima moved from Primary and Secondary Education to become the new Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.
Cain Mathema moved from Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage to Primary and Secondary Education.
Kazembe Kazembe moved from Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services to Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage.
Former ICT Deputy Minister Jenfan Muswere became the Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services.
“The cabinet reshuffle was as good as a non-event,” political analyst, Sipho Nyoni, told CITE.
“The same old dead wood that has been there and led us to this dire situation, we find ourselves in, is still in charge. The cabinet reshuffle doesn’t add anything new nor does it answer the deepening poverty faced by the common man on a day to day basis.”
Nyoni said Zimbabweans were looking for something far much better that would end their suffering and not cabinet reshuffles.
“The reshuffle won’t address any challenges faced by the Zimbabwean populace,” said Nyoni.
“This is because it’s not a people-centred cabinet reshuffle but one that is meant to give the President’s fellow cronies and henchmen a chance to sup in the gravy train. It’s a further drain of resources given the many deputy ministers and ministries we have, at a time when we are saying we are going through austerity.”
Khanyile Mlotshwa, another political analyst said the reshuffle could have been necessitated by the fact that the President wanted to manage ZANU-PF politics by rewarding those loyal to him while also threatening those he sees as unfaithful.
“Zimbabweans are looking for an answer to the economic challenges that they have to contend with every day,” said Mlotshwa.
“I struggle to see how the new additions to his cabinet and the changes that he has made address the economic challenges that the country is facing. I doubt that Zimbabweans are looking for this.”
Mlotshwa added, outside a plausible plan, there is no cabinet reshuffle that can address the challenges facing Zimbabweans.
“ We have had a couple of reshuffles since 1980 and they have not helped that much except for a few ministries that we have seen being functional like the Education Ministry under David Coltart and the Finance Ministry under Tendai Biti and that was the end, ” said Mlalazi.
“Thereafter, all these reshuffles are just political appointments that have no meaning for ordinary Zimbabweans but for the particular individuals and political patronage.”
He said the reshuffle fell far short of addressing the citizen’s concerns.
“That is not what Zimbabweans are looking for,” contended Mlalazi.
“Zimbabweans are looking for bread on their tables. Young people are looking for employment. We want money in the banks. Civil servants want better wages and none of these appointments seek to address those things.”
