Mini-Cabinet reshuffle imminent

News that a shuffle is imminent raised tensions at last weekend’s party congress, with officials reportedly urging Mugabe to institute a purge of Zanu (PF) ministers who are suspected of plotting against his leadership. The Zanu (PF) congress deferred new announcements to the Politburo, the top policy making body, because of heightened factional clashes at the congress.

There was talk of Tourism and Hospitality Management minister, Walter Mzembi, who was jettisoned from the Zanu (PF) Central Committee at the congress, leaving the Cabinet. It was suspected within Zanu (PF) ranks that Mzembi could be switching allegiance to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC. The Zimbabwean heard that Mzembi was likely to be replaced by current Information and Publicity minister, Webster Shamu, who has dismally failed to equal the Prime Minister’s savvy media campaign, in that portfolio.

There were also plans to return Professor Jonathan Moyo to the Information and publicity portfolio. And to install new Zanu (PF) national chairman, Simon Khaya-Moyo, elected at the Zanu (PF) congress to replace John Nkomo, the new minister of National Healing, Reconciliation and Intergration, a position previously held by Nkomo. The Zimbabwean heard that a replacement for Khaya-Moyo as ambassador to South Africa is also expected to be announced during the mini-reshuffle.

Mugabe was said to be moving to crack down on suspected dissidents by insisting they make clear statements in private that they will support his continued leadership.

One senior figure said: “We do not want a situation where rebels are inside the tent and still p***ing on us.” A senior source suggested the most likely time for the reshuffle would be in January, when Mugabe returns from his traditional month-long leave. However, some officials hope he will spring it sooner.

Mugabe attempted to revive his support base with a speech to the party congress that set out more clearly his plan for the future and the team he needs going forward. He said elections were around the corner and emphasised the need for a robust team to reverse the stunning loss the party suffered at the hands of the MDC in polls last year. However, there were coded criticisms of his style from officials on the congress fringe.

The senior Mnangagwa faction official told The Zimbabwean that the party needed to restore the “emotional connection” it had with voters in the 1990s. “We are not going to win by reciting lists of achievements. They mean nothing. And nor will we win simply by denouncing the MDC and sanctions.” He said there was need for new people to improve communications and fully backed the return of Moyo to manage the party and Mugabe’s defunct propaganda campaign.

“We have not lost, people have just stopped listening, and if we change the way we talk, what we say now will be as important as it was in the 1990s and will be in 2010.” Mugabe admitted his party had made slip-ups and lost elections last year and promised to do better and reclaim constituencies it lost to the MDC.