New ministers appointed
ADVOCATE Fortune Chasi was relieved of his duties as Minister of Energy and Power Development by President Mnangagwa on August 13 and replaced by Muzarabani North Member of Parliament (MP) Soda Zhemu.
Agricultural expert Dr Anxious Jongwe Masuka was appointed into Cabinet as Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement Minister following the death of Air Chief Marshal Perrance (Retired) Shiri on July 29.
The appointment of the new Cabinet ministers were announced by the Chief Secretary to the Office of the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda.
Adv Chasi was relieved of his duties “as his conduct of Government business had become incompatible with the President’s expectations”.
Minister Zhemu, who is a holder of a Masters in Business Administration, comes with a wealth of management skills from the private sector.
He also has a certificate in quality management systems.
In an interview, Minister Zhemu said he would actively play a role in helping the country become an upper middle-income economy by 2030.
“I am happy to be given this responsibility by His Excellency the President. The energy sector is expected to play a big role in helping Zimbabwe achieve Vision 2030 and I am motivated to help Zimbabwe achieve an upper middle-income economy by 2030.
“I have experience in management and this will help me do my duties well in this portfolio, and I am looking forward to having a good working relationship with stakeholders,” said Minister Zhemu.
Dr Masuka, who is a technocrat, has held several research and management posts in his colourful career. He began in the teaching field as a lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) in the Department of Biological Sciences as well as at the Zimbabwe College of Forestry.
He has also worked at the Forestry Commission, the Tobacco Research Board, where he rose to general manager.
Before his appointment, he was the chief executive officer of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society. Dr Masuka has cumulatively sat on over 30 boards and associations, and has been involved in consultancy work on projects in agriculture, forestry, environment, public health and rural development in Zimbabwe, SADC and beyond.
He is a founding fellow of the Zimbabwe Academy of Sciences in 2004. — The Herald.