UZA blasts new cabinet

Staff Reporter

Opposition United Zimbabwe Alliance (UZA) has castigated president Mnangagwa’s cabinet appointments saying they smack of nepotism, have recycled  deadwood, fly in the face of gender inclusivity, among other issues.

In a statement UZA said the brazen display of nepotism by the appointment of son David Kudakwashe Mnangagwa as the Deputy Finance Minister and  nephew Tongai Mafidhi Mnangagwa as Deputy Minister of Tourism and Hospitality is synonymous with dynastic succession and should never be condoned in a democratic Zimbabwe.

The opposition party led by Elisabeth Valerio expressed misgivings about the new cabinet’s capacity to turn around the comatose economy.

“UZA has taken note of the new cabinet sworn in by President Mnangagwa which fails to meet the expectations of many Zimbabweans who are suffering from a collapsing economy and a moribund local currency. Prices of basic commodities have been on an upward trend, pushing many Zimbabweans, especially the underprivileged into abject poverty. 

UZA had hoped President Mnangagwa’s cabinet would show, at least, his concern and efforts to turn around the economy and the fortunes of the people of Zimbabwe, especially young people who bear the brunt of rising unemployment. Instead, the newly appointed cabinet falls short in a number of respects, the following in particular:

President Mnangagwa’s cabinet essentially is a reshuffling of the same team that spearheaded the current economic meltdown. This will not move the nation forward,” said UZA. 

Continuing, the party said Mnangagwa missed an opportunity to refocus the government towards sustainable development. 

“Appointing new qualified minds would bring new solutions to the myriad of challenges Zimbabwe is facing. Where are the youth in President Mnangagwa’s cabinet? The old generation should allow Zimbabwe’s young people to chart the way forward for future generations.”

More than one third of President Mnangagwa’s cabinet ministers are over 60 years old and most of them have been in cabinet for the better part of their political lives. 

“While UZA respects the cadres who sacrificed their lives for an independent Zimbabwe, we do not believe that 43 years after independence the country should remain in war mode. It’s time for new blood.

Appointing 26 cabinet ministers and 10 provincial ministers in a country already burdened with economic malaise proves that either President Mnangagwa is out of touch with reality or has no regard for the voice of the people. UZA would have expected President Mnangagwa to trim the size of his cabinet. UZA favours a lean cabinet of under 15 ministers, which should include qualified and experienced individuals leading the various portfolios.”

Mnangagwa retained the provincial ministers whose roles, other than to consolidate the ruling party’s power in the provinces remain unclear. In addition he added a Skills Audit Ministry that came as a surprise to Zimbabweans.

“UZA questions the role of the minister responsible for provincial affairs.. What is the role of the Skills Audit Ministry? Could it not have been a department within another ministry? There is redundancy in President Mnangagwa’s cabinet.”

President Mnangagwa’s cabinet ministers include only 6 women and 20 men and this too has not gone down well with UZA.

“This contradicts past government pronouncements and stakeholder efforts to achieve gender balance in the governance of Zimbabwe. Women and girls constitute 52% of our country’s population yet they continue to be underrepresented across key sectors resulting in limited opportunities to influence policy and access economic and legal protections. Women are also highly impacted by cultural and patriarchal barriers.”

The party went on to present a litany of recommendations to Mnangagwa that include disbanding and combining “redundant ministries” to create a lean cabinet, ensuring  50/50 gender balance in appointments., removal of ministers who are “past their prime to pave way for accomplished young ministers who have the capacity to bring forward new innovative ideas,” inviting CVs and publicly interviewing Zimbabweans for ministerial positions in the same way judges and commissioners are appointed and including competent persons from opposition parties in cabinet ministerial positions.