Of appointments and reassignments
President Mnangagwa last week appointed a new Cabinet that has been widely hailed as progressive. There were several surprise appointments and reassignments, expected to add impetus to President Mnangagwa’s drive to transform Zimbabwe into a prosperous, modern and highly industrialised country. Our reporter RICHARD MUPONDE profiles some of the new ministers and those who were reassigned to take up new roles in the new Cabinet.
Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Dr Jenfan Muswere
Dr Muswere is the former Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services.
He was Deputy ICT Minister before being promoted, after his predecessor Kazembe Kazembe was moved to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage in November 2019.
He joined ZANU PF in 1995 and was once the Manicaland Provincial Secretary for Indigenisation.
In 2018, he was elected Secretary for Finance in the ZANU PF Youth League.
Last month, he was re-elected Makoni West legislator.
Speaking after being sworn into office, he said: “I am going to be a minister of all media houses.
“We are going to be focused on nation-building through an informed society . . .”
Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Senator Monica Mutsvangwa
Minister Mutsvangwa was reassigned to the new portfolio after serving as Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services in the previous Cabinet.
She is a war veteran, who became politically active at the tender age of 15.
After independence, she worked as a diplomat in Windhoek (Namibia), Brussels (Belgium) and New York (United States).
While in the diplomatic service, she was the president of the African Diplomats’ Wives Association in Beijing, China, for five years.
She has previously served as Deputy Minister of the following Ministries: Economic Planning and Investment Promotion; Labour and Social Welfare; Information, Media and Broadcasting Services; and as Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs.
Minister Mutsvangwa is a long-serving Senator representing Manicaland province.
She also served as chairperson of the Women Parliamentary Caucus for five years.
She holds an MBA from Rutgers University, New Jersey, US.
She obtained a Bachelor’s degree in International Marketing from Baruch College, City University of New York.
Outlining her priorities, she said: “The biggest amount of taxes is coming from SMEs (small and medium enterprises); all these need to be harnessed to make sure that the environment is good for them to produce, more so that we can bring the economy to its proper level, and there is no reason why not.”
Minister of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Ambassador Chris Mutsvangwa
Ambassador Mutsvangwa is chairperson of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association.
He entered public life as a diplomat, serving in Brussels and New York at the United Nations.
He was Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to China during the First Republic.
Minister Mutsvangwa also served as board chairperson of the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe in 2012.
In 1991, he was appointed director-general of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.
Amb Mutsvangwa was elected National Assembly representative for Norton in 2013, after which he was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and then the first Minister for Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborators, Former Political Detainees and Restrictees.
He is a former Minister of Information.
Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services Cde Tatenda Mavetera
Cde Mavetera is a former actor, businessperson, farmer and politician.
She rose to fame in the early 2000s, when she performed the role of Tendai Jari in the popular television soap opera Studio 263.
The firebrand politician is the current president of the ZANU PF affiliate group — Young Women for Economic Development (YWED).
Before joining active politics, she was a board member of the Zimbabwe Youth Council.
In 2018, she was seconded to the National Assembly as one of ZANU PF women’s quota candidates under the Seke-Chikomba constituency.
Last month, she was elected legislator for Chikomba West constituency on a ZANU PF ticket.
Speaking after last week’s swearing-in, Cde Mavetera said she plans to enhance access to ICT services in rural communities.
“I would employ an all-inclusive approach in harnessing urban and rural communities. “We want to work on issues that propel ICT. “We want to take measures that promote ICT in the rural areas and ensure we make technological advancements matching world-class standards,” she said.
Minister of Primary and Secondary
Education Cde Torerai Moyo
In 2018, Cde Moyo was elected legislator for Gokwe-Chireya constituency (ZANU PF).
He was chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education during the Ninth Parliament.
He is a respected academic, who holds a Master’s degree in Economic History from the University of Zimbabwe, a Bachelor of Arts degree in History (majoring in Economic History) and a Diploma in Education from Gweru Teachers’ College.
He is also a PhD candidate at Rhodes University, focusing on the politics of urban housing in Harare.
After being sworn in, he said: “CALA (Continuous Assessment Learning Activities) involves a lot of research, so we want to make sure that learners have laptops and all the necessary inputs in order for the system to work.
“There is nothing wrong with CALA, but the way CALA is handled is inappropriate.
“I think the general sentiment among parents is that CALA should be removed.”
Minister of Health and Child Care Dr
Douglas Mombeshora
Dr Mombeshora is a medical doctor. He was Zimbabwe’s Minister of Lands from 2013 to 2018.
He also served as Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care during the Inclusive Government between 2009 and 2013.
Dr Mombeshora is a ZANU PF Central Committee member.
He says his focus during his time in office will be on stopping the brain drain in the health sector.
He also intends to modernise health facilities and address the shortage of drugs in public health institutions.
Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training
Cde Tino Machakaire
Minister Machakaire is the ZANU PF Secretary for Youth Affairs.
He was Deputy Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation in the last Government.
The renowned businessman has vast interests in mining, transport and logistics.
He was elected legislator for Hwedza East constituency.
Speaking to journalists after last week’s swearing-in, Minister Machakaire said: “We need to address challenges being faced by the youth; issues of drug and substance abuse, and unemployment.
“We have a lot to learn and impart to the youths so they can find something useful to develop themselves with.
“We want to uphold independence among the youth.”
Minister of Public Service, Labour and
Social Welfare Cde July Moyo
Minister Moyo is a long-serving public servant, who was a member of the previous Cabinet as Minister of Local Government and Public Works.
In 1999, Cde Moyo was appointed the Governor of Midlands province, before he was named Minister of Public Service, Labour and
Social Welfare a year later.
He was then moved to head the Ministry of Energy and Power Development in 2004.
He is the National Assembly representative for Redcliff constituency.
Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Cde Barbara Rwodzi
Minister Rwodzi was the Deputy Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry in the previous Government.
She is a firebrand politician, entrepreneur and member of the Pan-African Parliament.
She is also the only female National Assembly member for ZANU PF in the Midlands province.
She said: “The focus is on working hard to grow our economy through tourism . . .”
Minister of Mines and Mining Development Cde Zhemu Soda
He joined politics in 1994 as a member of the ZANU PF Youth League.
He rose through the ranks to become Secretary for Education at the district level, main wing. He holds a degree in accounting from the Zimbabwe Open University and an MBA.
In 2013, Minister Soda was elected to the National Assembly, representing Muzarabani North constituency.
He was re-elected in 2018.
In August 2020, he was appointed Minister of Energy and Power Development, replacing Advocate Fortune Chasi.
In 2018, he was elected MP for Muzarabani North on a ZANU PF ticket.
He was Minister of Energy and Power Development in the previous Cabinet.
Minister of Industry and Commerce Dr Sithembiso Nyoni
Dr Nyoni is a politician and philanthropist. She was the Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises in the last Cabinet. She holds several academic qualifications, including a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work from the University of Zimbabwe and a Master of Arts degree in Social Development from the University of Zambia.
Minister Nyoni began her career as a social worker in the 1970s. She worked with a number of NGOs, including the Christian Care Council of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Project.
She is the founder and president of the Organisation of Rural Associations for Progress (ORAP), which she founded in 1981 as a forum to discuss developmental issues.
Minister Nyoni held several Government positions in the First Republic and the Second
Republic. Between 2005 and 2009, she served as the Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises Development. In 2017, she was appointed Minister of Women Affairs, Community and SME Development. She is known for her work with grassroots communities and her commitment to empowering women and girls.
She is also a vocal advocate of peace and social justice.
Minister of Energy and Power Development Cde Edgar Moyo
Minister Moyo is a former teacher and academic. He is a former executive member of the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta).
During his time at Zimta, he was in the National Joint Negotiating Council, representing the education sector.
In 2014, he was appointed board member of the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council and served until 2017. He also sat on the finance committee of the Southern African Teachers Organisation. He was Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education in the last Government. He retained his National Assembly seat (Matopo North) during last month’s elections.
Speaking after being sworn in last week, he said: “One of my key priorities is energy security through increased power generation and transmission to reduce load shedding and ultimately end it.”
Minister of Local Government Cde Winston Chitando
Minister Chitando moves to a new portfolio after serving as Mines and Mining Development Minister in the last Cabinet.
He worked as a mining engineer for several firms, including Hwange Colliery Company and Impala Platinum Holdings.
He is a qualified mining engineer with over 20 years of experience in the mining industry.
He has vast experience in the corporate sector and once served as board chairperson of Hwange Colliery Company Limited.
Minister Chitando also served as managing director of Mimosa Mining Company.
During his tenure as the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Zimbabwe assumed the chairmanship of the 19-member African Diamond Producers Association (ADPA).
Last year, he led Zimbabwe to assume the chairmanship of the Kimberly Process, an international certification scheme that regulates international diamond trade.
◆ The rest of the profiles will be published next week.