State Media – Emmerson Mnangagwa has not delayed the appointing of new ministers as the law requires that those who make it in the new Cabinet should first take oath as Members of Parliament, his deputy Constantino Chiwenga said yesterday.

Chiwenga said this in Kanyemba during a briefing before holding a development strategic meeting.

He said he was compelled to make the clarification following a litany of falsehoods regarding the appointment of the new Cabinet.

Some faceless social media characters last week went into overdrive, fabricating stories insinuating that there had been tussles on the appointment of new ministers between President Mnangagwa and his deputy Chiwenga.

“The Government is being set up and I was hearing even from some who do not know the law saying it has been delayed,” said Acting President Chiwenga.

“The President cannot set a new Cabinet before MPs are sworn in.

“It is so simple, but you see some writing useless things and we say just leave them like that. Kuda kungotsvaga nyaya yekutaura chete.

“Kana dare ragadzwa neParliament ndomunozosarudzwa maMinisters. Asi iko zvino tinavo nekuti vachiripo. Ndangoti ndingotsanangura ipapo vamwe vanoti zvino zvanonokerei. (The people who are writing those things have nothing important to say. It is only after MPs are sworn in that the President can appoint a Cabinet. But for now we still have ministers. I felt I had to explain that).

“Government has three arms that is the Executive, Judiciary and Legislature.Hapana anoita basa risiri rake. Umwe neumwe ane basa rake. (There is separation of powers).”
The newly elected National Assembly members and senators will take their oath of office tomorrow.

Last week, the two Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi took oaths of office at State House before Chief Justice Luke Malaba.

Chiwenga, who was accompanied by several Cabinet Ministers most of whom are serving Zanu-PF Politburo members, said his visit to Kanyemba was aimed at steering development in the area.

He said his visit to the area followed similar trips by the First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa, who was also undertaking developmental projects.

Acting President Chiwenga said Government was augmenting Mnangagwa’s work in Kanyemba at a larger scale.

“The reason why we have come here is to see how we can develop this area. The development that we want to do here should also benefit the country at large.

“Let us unite as a community and work together to develop our country. There are lot of things that we want to do here.

“Once we have finished some of the projects we want here, there will be quite a lot of development, especially in agriculture.

“ The people here are going to benefit a lot. At least 200 hectares of land should be under irrigation using centre pivots.”

Chiwenga later addressed Zanu-PF supporters at Kanyemba Business Centre.

In his address, he said time for politicking was over. “Campaigning can take time, but voting is just one day,” he said.

“All that is now behind us and we should now focus on delivering what we promised during the campaign period.”

Chiwenga donated 60 tonnes of maize to the Kanyemba community.

He said he had been sent by President Mnangagwa to deliver the grain.-state media