HERE is a rating President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Cabinet so far, by REASON WAFAWAROVA ||
Finance and Economic Development – Hon. Professor Mthuli Ncube.
Much was expected of him, and naturally all attention is on him. He has taken three notable decisions so far, that is; cutting on government expenditure (austerity), the 2 cents electronic transfer tax, and free floating of the RTGS dollar. He has also cleared some arrears with the IMF.
Much is still expected of his much publicised “Transitional Stabilisation Program. Inflation fell from over 10% in February to 1.7% in March.
The cash crisis continues, and most people can only access foreign currency on the parallel market. Floating the RTGS to trade freely without availing foreign currency to the banks has been problematic.
Rating: 5/10.
2. Defence and War Veterans – Hon. Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri.
Has been on the quite side even after the ZDF was implicated in allegations of human rights abuses during and after the January 14-16 violent riots involving opposition political activists. The army is currently fighting down the deadly havoc of Cyclone Ida. Muchinguri is publicity shy and she is not know to love headlines that much.
For many Zimbabweans it is positive that for the first time since Independence a woman is in charge of the Defence Ministry.
Not many people want to follow the daily routines of ZDF, and not much is expected from any Minister that may so occupy the position.
Rating: 5/10
3. Local Government, Public Works and National Housing – Hon. July Moyo.
He took the flake for the purchase of cars for chiefs, and is loathed by enemies of President ED Mnangagwa because of his close links to the President.
He has distributed part of the devolution funds to decentralise development initiatives. He has worked fairly amicably with MDC led Urban Councils, unlike his predecessors Ignatius Chombo and Saviour Kasukuwere, who were very hostile to MDC led councils.
Focus will continue to be on how he will handle the devolution policy.
Rating 7/10
4. Foreign Affairs and International Trade- Hon. Sibusiso B. Moyo.
Has been a very busy man with the re-engagement efforts, and some of it has been fairly successful. The regional diplomatic campaign has been a success with the AU and SADC expressing more and more solidarity with Zimbabwe.
Reported ill health has affected Moyo’s efforts, but he has been seen in public of late looking fairly good enough for the demanding job.
While regional powers like South Africa and Nigeria have been won over, the same cannot be said about the world super power the United States. Having started impressively well with the Tory Gvt in the UK, that relationship was bit shaken after the January riots events.
Bi-lateral treaties and MoUs signed between Zimbabwe and countries like China, Russia, Botswana, South Africa and many others are yet to yield the filter down effect to the ordinary person.
A lot of people are becoming more and more sceptical with phrase “mega deals,” as many heralded “Mega Deals,” are yet to yield anything from the time ED came into power.
Much is still expected on the diplomatic front.
Rating: 6/10
5. Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare – Hon. Sekesai Nzenza.
An enthusiastic Minister with a lot of zeal and goodwill. Has had to deal with an underpaid Civil service, strikes from the Education and Health sectors, restructuring of the civil service.
The Labor front of her portfolio is a huge challenge. Workers are largely exploited in Zimbabwe because they have zero bargaining power in a country with a very high rate of unemployment, seen as high demand for labour by employers.
The social welfare bit of the job is in a mess. Dealing with the highly politicised civic sector and also eroded pensions for senior citizens, NASSA and other challenges.
Without resources it is hard to imagine a motivated civil service, a productive and happy workforce, and a well looked after retired workforce.
Sekai Nzenza has enough exposure to First World development, and she must know well how to formulate policy goals around her portfolio.
Rating:
6/10
6. Industry and Commerce – Hon. Mangaliso Ndlovu.
Young and looking intelligent, yet not much has been seen from this young man. He has been holding a lot of workshops and consultative meetings with industry, and recently there were a lot of negotiations over the pricing systems.
His portfolio is to look after industry and commerce, and he relies heavily on what Sibusiso Moyo achieves in the Trade portfolio by way of attracting investment.
He also relies heavily on other line Ministers like Mines, Energy and so on. He is more or less in the same catch 22 fix like Nzenza.
Rating: 5/10
7. Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage- Hon. Cain Mathema.
We have heard next to nothing on Cultural Heritage, and we haven’t heard much on Immigration as well.
It is of course the Police Force that always highlights this portfolio. Mathema is not new to politics at all, and his predecessors at Home Affairs were not very popular for obvious reasons.
By and large the ZRP has been spared condemnation during the Second Republic, with most of the blame on alleged brutality going to the ZDF.
We hope Mathema will transform the ZRP into a professionally run security outfit befitting of our longstanding reputation on the continent.
Rating: 5/10
8. Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development – Hon. Professor Amon Murwira.
Professors do not do always well when taken out of lecture rooms. A very intelligent man, but lacks the touch that Jonathan Moyo had in setting up an agenda foe everyone to follow.
Things are administratively quite at the Ministry of Higher Learning, yet so much needs to be addressed, from welfare of students, evaluation of the standards of learning and so on and so forth. Professor Murwira could do well with a bit of media publicity over our higher education system. We might not care much what happens at Defence, but we certainly want to know what our Universities and Colleges are doing.
Rating: 4/10
9. Primary and Secondary Education – Hon. Professor Paul Mavima.
He has avoided the unfortunate bad publicity that surrounded his bearded predecessor who was sadly attacked for his alleged religious beliefs.
Mavima is a focused and hardworking man, and we hope he will get the resources and support the ministry needs to look after our kids in primary and high schools.
Rating: 5/10
10. Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement – Hon. Air Chief Marshal Perrance Shiri.
He has a large portfolio deputised by two men. These are three Ministries in one.
Focus is on Lands and Agriculture. The Ministry needs to articulate the land policy for public benefit. What are those reported offer letters for running farms? Are we still distributing land or we are done with that phase?
We also need to know where we stand with food security. Do we have enough food in the country? If yes, how much of what; if not what do we lack and what are we doing about it.
Shiri does not like the Press. He is a disciplined soldier and works with action, not rhetoric, talk or politics.
We are hoping for the best from him.
Rating: 5/10
11. Mines and Mining Development – Hon. Winston Chitando.
He is disappointment. Looks like everyone thinks can run the Mines sector the way they want. Chitando is a technocrat who must understand how best to professionalise and formalise the mining sector.
A lot is still expected from this young man.
4/10
12. Energy and Power Development – Hon. Joram Gumbo.
Has very little good will from people. Must have been rested with other old timers. Has Zimbabwe Airways sagas hanging? on his head from when he was at Transport.
Its hard to think he can really focus on new ideas when he has to deal so much historical political flake.
Good thing is magetsi haasi kuenda and there has been meaningful investment into the energy sector.
Rating: 5/10
13. Transport and Infrastructural Development – Hon. Joel Biggie Matiza.
Another old timer who is level headed. He is deputised by a decent hard-working fellow in Chasi. Transport is a trouble sector and we are looking forward to meaningful reforms in the public transport sector.
Rating 6/10
14. Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services- Hon. Monica Mutsvangwa.
Decent lady, positive, sober and professional. Monica must focus on dealing with media reforms and she is doing fairly well in that. Her deputy is out of sorts and must must doing other things like going back to the entertainment industry. He is an unwanted distraction in the Ministry.
There is need to improve in terms of being Government Spokesperson. Delegated or directly carried, that role needs a little more intellectual stamina and mental strength than we are seeing right now. Maybe the fact that Charamba got promoted with his spokesman role is complicating matters.
Rating: 6/10
15. ICT and Courier Services- Hon. Kazembe Kazembe.
Doing next to nothing.
Rating: 3/10
16. Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry – Hon. Prisca Mupfumira.
Working really hard. Impressive on the continental front. Room to improve, but keep it up.
Rating: 8/10
17. Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation – Hon. Kirsty Coventry.
Decent efforts. Loved by youths, artists and many others. Keep going.
Rating 6/10
18. Health and Child Care- Hon. Dr Obediah Moyo.
Looks overwhelmed and confused. The Health Ministry is fire fighting and the Minister is the Fire Brigade Sergeant. He needs to take responsibility for policy planning and implementation so we do not have the fire in the first place. He needs a plan on how to source external resources. Its easier to get donations for health than any other sector, but the Minister comes across as a decent fellow who is flat minded.
Rating: 3/10
19. Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs – Hon. Ziyambi Ziyambi.
Busy political animal. Good for counter politics with the abrasive MDCA. But a lot needs cleaning up and sorting out in the Justice Ministry. It is the lawyers’ Ministry but lawyers are just weirdos aren’t they?
Keep working Ziyambi.
Rating : 5/10
20. Women Affairs, Community, Small and Enterprises Development – Hon. Sithembiso Nyoni:
Nothing much happening there. Trouble free decent lady. Probably time to watch others try that portfolio.
Rating: 4/10