CCC MP urges Mnangagwa to appoint State Security Minister

A Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislator, Agency Gumbo, has called on President Emmerson Mnangagwa to fulfil his constitutional obligation by appointing a Minister of State Security, a position that has remained vacant since January 2022. 

Gumbo argues the President’s failure to make the appointment violates Section 225 of Zimbabwe’s Constitution that mandates the Head of State to designate a minister responsible for the country’s intelligence services, of which failure to so constitutes a breach of the country’s supreme law.

The portfolio has remained vacant since January 2022, when then-Minister Owen “Mudha” Ncube was dismissed for conduct deemed unbefitting of a minister after he allegedly intimidated people attending a Zanu PF provincial meeting to confirm winners of provincial party elections.

Ncube, said to be a close ally of President Mnangagwa, later returned to government in 2023 as the Midlands Provincial and Devolution Affairs Minister after the president announced a 26-ministry Cabinet .

Since his removal, President Mnangagwa has reportedly centralised the operations of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) under his direct control, raising concerns about oversight and transparency.

Speaking during a parliamentary session on Thursday, Gumbo, the Hatcliffe Constituency MP, highlighted the necessity of adhering to constitutional mandates, emphasising that the role of Parliament includes safeguarding the Constitution and holding the Executive accountable.

“My statement of national importance arises from the Constitution of the land, particularly Section 225, which stipulates that the President must appoint a Minister to oversee any intelligence service,” said Gumbo.

 “This section uses the word ‘must’, meaning the President has no discretion on whether to appoint, the only discretion is who he appoints. Yet, over a year after the elections and well into the second session of this Parliament, we still do not have a Minister responsible for National and State Security.”

Gumbo expressed alarm over the potential consequences of this oversight, warning the absence of a dedicated minister for state security hampers Parliament’s ability to perform its oversight role.

“This abrogation of constitutional obligation is dire,” Gumbo stated.

“Without a Minister of National Security, we are unable to interrogate and demand accountability on critical matters affecting national security. This goes to the heart of our oversight role as Parliament.”

He urged his fellow parliamentarians to recognise the issue as a matter of national importance, transcending party politics. 

“It is incumbent upon this Parliament to preserve the integrity of the superior law of the land. This is not a partisan issue. it is one that affects every Zimbabwean,” Gumbo added.

Gumbo called on Mnangagwa to act swiftly, describing the appointment as an urgent national security matter. 

He further implored the Leader of Government Business to convey Parliament’s concerns to the President.

In an interview with CITE, another opposition politician, Iphithule Maphosa from the Congress for Transformation (CFT) concurred that the issue or failure of the president to appoint the minister undermines constitutional governance.

“The lack of a State Security Minister raises broader questions about the centralisation of power within Mnangagwa’s administration and the transparency of intelligence operations in Zimbabwe,” Maphosa said.