BILL WATCH 45/2013 [16th September 2013] Ministerial Appointments

BILL WATCH 45/2013

[16th September 2013]

Ministerial Appointments

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”.