BILL WATCH 22/2018
14th September 2018
President Mnangagwa’s Ministerial Appointments
President Mnangagwa’s Ministerial appointments were announced at State House on Friday afternoon, 7th September. The main swearing-in ceremony took place on 10th September, and most of the appointees took their oaths of office on this occasion. Those that were unable to attend have been sworn in since.
The new Ministerial line-up is as follows:
CABINET MINISTERS & THEIR DEPUTIES
[in alphabetical order by name of Ministry]
|
Ministry |
Minister |
Deputy Minister |
|
Defence and War Veterans |
Hon Oppah Zvipange Muchinguri-Kashiri |
Hon. Victor Matemadanda |
|
Energy and Power Development |
Hon. Joram M. Gumbo |
Hon. Magna Mudyiwa |
|
Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry |
Hon. Prisca Mupfumira |
--- |
|
Finance and Economic Development |
Hon. Prof Mthuli Ncube * |
--- |
|
Foreign Affairs and International Trade |
Hon. Sibusiso B. Moyo |
--- |
|
Health and Child Care |
Hon. Dr Obediah Moyo * |
Hon Dr John Mangwiro |
|
Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology |
Hon. Prof Amon Murwira * |
--- |
|
Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage |
Hon. Cain Mathema * |
Hon. Michael Madiro |
|
Industry and Commerce |
Hon. Mangaliso Ndlovu |
Hon Rajeshakumar Modi |
|
Information Communication Technology and Courier Services |
Hon. Kazembe Kazembe |
Hon. Jerifan Muswere |
|
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services |
Hon. Monica Mutsvangwa |
Hon. Energy Mutodi |
|
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs |
Hon. Ziyambi Ziyambi |
--- |
|
Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement |
Hon. Chief Air Marshal |
Hon. Douglas Karoro Hon. Vangelis Haritatos |
|
Local Government, Public Works and National Housing |
Hon. July G. Moyo * |
Hon. Jennifer Mhlanga |
|
Mines and Mining Development |
Hon. Winston Chitando |
Hon. Polite Kambamura |
|
Primary and Secondary Education |
Hon. Prof Paul Mavima |
Hon. Edgar Moyo |
|
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare |
Hon. Sekesai Nzenza |
Hon. Lovemore Matuke |
|
Transport and Infrastructural Development |
Hon. Joel Biggie Matiza |
Hon. Fortune Chasi |
|
Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development |
Hon. Sithembiso G. G. Nyoni |
--- |
|
Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation |
Hon. Kirsty Coventry * |
Hon. Yeukai Simbanegavi |
1. There are six Ministers in this list [each marked by an asterisk *] who are not members of Parliament – one more than the five that the Constitution allows the President to appoint from outside Parliament [section 104(3)]. Unlike the former Constitution, the Constitution does not allow a Minister to hold office for up to three months to enable him/her to acquire a Parliamentary seat. So a mistake has been made by the President’s advisers and one of these six Ministers has not been lawfully appointed. This is something that needs to be cleared up by the Office of the President and Cabinet as soon as possible – if necessary, by the appointment of an Acting Minister for the Ministry concerned pending a lawful substantive appointment.
2. Deputy Ministers are appointed to assist Ministers in the exercise of their functions [Constitution, section 104(2)].
3. There are 20 Ministries. 6 of them are without Deputy Ministers, notably Finance and Economic Development, and Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs – both of which are major Ministries with sufficient responsibilities to justify the appointment of Deputy Ministers. The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement has two Deputy Ministers, maintaining recent practice by both Presidents Mugabe and Mnangagwa.
4. Dr Mangwiro’s appointment as Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care was announced this week. He was sworn in on 11th September.
MINISTERS OF STATE IN THE OFFICES OF THE VICE-PRESIDENTS
|
Vice-President Chiwenga’s Office |
Hon. Evelyn Ndlovu |
|
Vice-President Mohadi’s Office |
Hon. Davis Marapira |
Neither of the Vice-Presidents has been assigned responsibility for a particular Ministry. This is a departure from President Mnangagwa’s previous arrangements, under which VP Chiwenga was assigned the Ministry of Defence and War Veterans and VP Mohadi the Ministry of National Peace and Reconciliation. His assignment of the Ministry of Defence and War Veterans to VP Chiwenga had been strongly criticised as unconstitutional, with critics referring to the fact that section 215 of the Constitution provides that the President must appoint a Minister to be responsible for the Defence Forces.
MINISTERS OF STATE FOR PROVINCIAL AFFAIRS
[in alphabetical order by name of province]
|
Province |
Minister of State |
|
Bulawayo |
Hon. Judith Ncube |
|
Harare |
--- |
|
Manicaland |
Hon. Ellen Gwaradzimba |
|
Mashonaland Central |
Hon. Monica Mavhunga |
|
Mashonaland East |
Hon. Appllonia Munzverengi |
|
Mashonaland West |
Hon. Mary Mliswa |
|
Masvingo |
Hon. Ezra Chadzamira |
|
Matabeleland North |
Hon. Richard Moyo |
|
Matabeleland South |
Hon. Abednico Ncube |
|
Midlands |
Hon. Larry Mavima |
As the President has repeatedly said his Government will be implementing the constitutional provisions for devolution of powers and responsibilities to provincial and metropolitan councils, the appointment of provincial Ministers of State may in due course become redundant. When devolution has been achieved and provincial councils have assumed control of provincial affairs and resources, having Provincial Affairs Ministers may prove to be an unnecessary and therefore wasteful expense for the fiscus.
