Politics

Zimbabwe: A look at the controversial cabinet featuring the president’s son, nephew

Published

3 weeks ago

September 12, 2023

Barely weeks after being declared winner of the presidential elections, Zimbabwean President, Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed his son as the deputy finance minister, and his nephew as deputy minister of tourism and hospitality.

As part of the parliament’s youth quota, President Mnangagwa named Soda Zhemu to lead the mining ministry and named his son, David Mnangagwa to serve as deputy finance minister, Mthuli Ncube’s deputy. His nephew, Tongai Mafidhi Mnangagwa, was assigned the deputy tourism and hospitality minister post.

Winston Chitando, who had led the ministry since November 2017, was replaced as the Minister of Mines by Zhemu. Since 2020, he has served as the minister of energy and power development.

Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, national chairman of the governing ZANU-PF party, was reappointed as the defence minister.

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) had last month announced that the 80-year-old politician, who contested under the ruling ZANU-PF, had been re-elected after his main challenger, Nelson Chamisa, who leads the opposition Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) party, secured 44% of the presidential vote.

Mnangagwa, after announcing the new cabinet, had no opposition officials in it. He defended his decision not to appoint opposition members amid speculations on a possible unity government. “I have a huge majority and I think the opposition would enjoy being in actual opposition rather than in government”, he said.

The country is currently faced with a huge economic burden. According to the World Bank, Zimbabwe’s economic development continues to be hampered by price and exchange rate instability, misallocation of productive resources, high informality, low investment, and limited structural transformation.

More than half of Zimbabwe’s export revenue comes from mining, and Mnangagwa has declared that the industry, which is luring investors into the lithium mining industry, will underpin future economic growth.

Related Topics:Emmerson Mnangagwa Featured Zimbabwe

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Politics

Tunisian opposition leader, Ghannouchi to begin hunger strike in prison

Published

2 days ago

September 30, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

Embattled Tunisian opposition leader, Rached Ghannouchi, who has been a political prisoner since April, has threatened to begin a hunger strike in captivity.

Ghannouchi’s party, Ennahda made the announcement in a statement on Friday, stating that the 82-year-old fierce critic of President Kais Saied, has now decided to stay without food.

Ghannouchi was convicted in absentia in May after his refusal to appear before judges on the grounds that the accusations were false and the prosecution was politically motivated.

Along with other jailed opposition figures, who accuse Saied of a coup for closing the elected parliament and implementing rule by decree, he is also accused of planning against state security.

Since coming into power, President Saied has been firm on dissenting voices in the country. More than 20 political personalities, including Ghannouchi, have been detained by the police this year on suspicion of attempting to undermine state security.

Politics

Rwanda President, Kagame announces major cabinet shuffle

Published

4 days ago

September 28, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

Barely a week after he confirmed his intention to seek his country’s presidency for a fourth time, Rwandan President, Paul Kagame has announced a major cabinet shuffle.

The announcement was made by Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente on Wednesday on behalf of the President.

In place of Ms. Clare Akamanzi, who had held the position for a long time, Kagame named Gen. James Kabarebe, a recently retired former minister of defence, as the new State Minister of Foreign Affairs. Gen. Kabarebe replaced the long-serving Ms. Akamanzi.

Francis Gatare, an economist who most recently served as the Senior Economic Advisor in the President’s Office since 2021, has been named the new Chief Executive Officer of RDB.

Gatare previously held the position of CEO of the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum, and Gas Board, gaining extensive experience in both the public and private sectors. Shortly after being appointed, Mr Gatare declared that the key to Rwanda’s economic growth would be to advance public-private partnerships.

“I am humbled by the trust and confidence, thank you HE @PaulKagame for the new assignment. Honoured to join the super talented and committed team at @RDBrwanda and pledge to give it my all, to listen and learn. The Vision: Advance Public-Private partnership as the engine of Rwanda’s Economic growth.” said Gatare in a tweet posted on Thursday shortly after his appointment.

The Prime Minister, Ministers, Ministers of State, and additional members selected by the President make up Rwanda’s Cabinet. Members of the Cabinet are chosen from political organizations based on the number of seats they hold in the Chamber of Deputies, but they are not permitted to be members of the Chamber themselves.