On 11th September the President swore in Vice-President Joice Mujuru and Ministers, Ministers of State in the President’s Office or Vice-President’s Office, Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Deputy Ministers at State House.
There are 26 Cabinet Ministers: 3 Ministers of State; 10 Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs, one for each of the ten provinces; and 24 Deputy Ministers [Total 63]. The corresponding figures for the 2009-2013 Inclusive Government are: 36 Cabinet Ministers; 6 Ministers of State; 10 Provincial Governors/Resident Ministers; 19 Deputy Ministers [Total 71].
Cabinet
Notes:
1. Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers do not sit in Cabinet.
2. The President still has the option of appointing a second Vice-President under the Constitution. Since the 1987 Unity Accord between ZANU and the former ZAPU leading to the merging of those parties, the President has always appointed one of the Vice-Presidents from the old ZAPU wing of the party. A replacement for Vice-President Landa John Nkomo, who had been one of the party’s Vice-Presidents, was not made by the party after his death in January. His successor will probably be elected at the next ZANU-PF national congress and then be appointed as the country’s second Vice-President.
3. All Ministers and Deputy Ministers are members of Parliament, except for five Ministers who do not hold seats. President Mugabe has used to the full the power he enjoys under section 104(3) of the Constitution to appoint a maximum of five Ministers from outside Parliament [“up to five, chosen for their professional skills and competence, may be appointed from outside Parliament”]. The individuals so appointed, each indicated by an asterisk * in the lists below, were unsuccessful candidates for Parliamentary seats in the recent elections. These five Ministers may “sit and speak, but not vote, in the Senate or House of Assembly”. It is not necessary for them to become MPs in order to retain their Ministerial positions, as would have been the case under the former Constitution.
Ex officio members
President Mugabe
Vice-President Mujuru
Ministerial members appointed to Cabinet by President
Senior Minister of State without Portfolio Moyo, Simon Khaya
Ministers [In alphabetical order by name of Ministry]
Agriculture, Mechanisation & Irrigation Development Made, Joseph *
Defence Sekeramayi, Sydney
Energy and Power Development Mavhaire, Dzikamai
Environment, Water & Climate Kasukuwere, Savior
Finance Chinamasa. Patrick
Foreign Affairs Mumbengegwi, Samuel
Health & Child Care Parirenyatwa, David
Higher & Tertiary Education, Science &
Technology Development Muchena, Olivia
Home Affairs Mohadi, Kembo
Industry & Commerce Bimha, Mike
Information & Communication Technology,
Postal & Courier Services Shamu, Webster
Justice & Legal Affairs Mnangagwa, Emmerson
Lands & Rural Resettlement Mombeshora, Douglas
Local Government, Public Works & National Housing Chombo, Ignatius
Media, Information & Broadcasting Services Moyo, Jonathan *
Mines & Mining Development Chidhakwa, Walter
Presidential Affairs Mutasa, Didymus
Primary & Secondary Education Dokora, Lazarus *
Public Service, Labour & Social Welfare Goche, Nicholas
Small & Medium Enterprises Nyoni, Sithembiso
Sports, Arts & Culture Langa, Andrew
Tourism & Hospitality Industry Mzembi, Walter
Transport & Infrastructural Development Mpofu, Obert
Women’s Affairs, Gender & Community
Development Muchinguri, Oppah
Youth, Indigenisation & Economic Empowerment Nhema, Francis
Ministers of State
Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Buka, Flora
Minister of State for for Liaising on Psychomotor
Activities in Education and Vocational Training Hungwe, Josiah
Minister of State in Vice-President
Mujuru’s office Nguni, Sylvester
Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs
It is as yet unclear what the functions of these ten Ministers of State will be. There is concern they will take the place of the former Provincial Governors/Resident Ministers and thus dilute the decentralised functions of the new Provincial Councils.
Bulawayo Moyo, Eunice
Harare Chikukwa, Mirriam
Manicaland Mushowe, Chris
Mashonaland Central Dinha, Martin *
Mashonaland West Chidarikire, Faber *
Mashonaland East Mudarikwa, Simbaneuta
Masvingo Bhasikiti, Kudakwashe
Matabeleland North Mathema, Cain
Matabeleland South Ncube, Abednico
Midlands Machaya, Jason
Deputy Ministers
[In alphabetical order by name of Ministry]
Agriculture (2):
Cropping, Mechanisation &
Irrigation Development Murapira, Davis
Livestock Zhanda, Paddy
Energy & Power Development Musanhu, Munacho
Environment, Water & Climate Musanhu, Simon
Finance Undenge, Samuel
Foreign Affairs Mutsvangwa, Christopher
Health & Child Care Chimedza, Paul
Higher & Tertiary Education, Science &
Technology Development Gandawa, Godfrey
Home Affairs Ziyambi, Ziyambi
Industry & Commerce (2) Chiratidzo, Iris
Information & Communication Technology,
Postal & Courier Services Mlambo, Win
Justice, Legal & Parliamentary Affairs Chasi, Fortune
Lands & Rural Resettlement Savanhu, Tendai
Local Government, Public Works & National Housing Matiza, Biggie
Media, Information & Broadcasting Services Mandiwanzira, Supa
Mines & Mining Development Moyo, Fred
Primary & Secondary Education Mavhima, Paul
Public Service, Labour & Social Welfare Muzenda, Tongai
Small & Medium Enterprises & Cooperative
Development Mukonora, Noveti
Sports, Arts & Culture Malinga, Tabeth
Tourism & Hospitality Industry Kanhanga, Walter
Transport & Infrastructural Development Kagonye, Petronella
Women’s Affairs, Gender & Community
Development Damasane, Abigail
Youth, Indigenisation & Economic Empowerment Tongofa, Mathias
Re-Assignment of Responsibility for Acts of Parliament
Some of the Ministries that were set up under the inclusive government no longer exist, e.g., Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs, Regional Integration and International Cooperation and State Enterprises and Parastatals. Some have been split, e.g. Education, Sports, Arts and Culture has become two Ministries: (1) Primary and Secondary Education, (2) Sports, Arts and Culture. Some have been amalgamated under a new name, e.g. Environment, Water and Climate combines two former Ministries. It will therefore be necessary for the President to re-assign Ministerial responsibilities, including responsibility for administration of Acts of Parliament. Until that is done there is a possibility of public confusion about the areas for which Ministers are responsible. Responsibility for administration of Acts is invariably notified by statutory instrument, thereby enabling readers of Acts to make sense of references to “the Minister” in Acts which have been rendered out of date, such as “’Minister’ means the Minister of Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs” and to give effect to references like “or such other Minister to whom the President may from time to time assign the administration of this Act”.
Note: Section 104(1) of the Constitution allows the President to “reserve to himself or herself the administration of any Act, Ministry or department”.
Post published in: Politics