Source: Do we need deputy ministers? – DailyNews Live
STAFF WRITER 5 September 2018
HARARE – There is consensus among Zimbabweans that the improvement in the
country’s economic fortunes will hinge on the Cabinet to be appointed by
President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
We agree with Zimbabweans from various sectors and from the ruling Zanu PF
party itself who believe that only a youthful and energetic Cabinet with
the right skills can pull out the country from the economic abyss it has
been stuck in for several decades.
Given the foregoing, it goes without saying that Mnangagwa has an onerous
task to appoint a Cabinet that will win the confidence of Zimbabweans who
are impatiently waiting for an economic turnaround.
In our paper yesterday, we carried a story, quoting Zanu PF sources,
claiming that old ministers who form the bulk of the outgoing Cabinet will
be dumped and be reassigned roles at the ruling party’s headquarters. We
hope and pray that Mnangagwa will have the courage to carry this through
as most of the ministers in the outgoing Cabinet have gone past their
sell-by dates.
We also urge Mnangagwa to take seriously the overdue call by the Women in
Politics Support Unit for him to appoint a 50/50 Cabinet in line with
gender parity as enshrined in Zimbabwe’s Constitution which calls for both
men and women to be accorded equal opportunities in political, economic,
cultural and social spheres.
The failure by the president to include a woman in the presidium has
justifiably incensed women rights activists. As such, Mnangagwa has to
demonstrate his commitment to gender parity by including many women in his
Cabinet.
Mnangagwa has no choice but to seize the moment. This country needs a lean
Cabinet made up of the right people who should ideally be technocrats. For
example there is no longer any justification for the Finance ministry to
be given to a lawyer with no history in the world of economics.
To revive our economy which is in the intensive care, we need a Finance
minister with the right experience and knowledge to prescribe the right
antidote to our convulsing economy. Among other things, State enterprises
and parastatals have to be commercialised or reformed without further
delay and more importantly, real investment has to be attracted as opposed
to the Mickey Mouse foreign direct investment that our leaders routinely
shout about from roof tops.
Additionally, given the economic rut we are in, is there no longer any
justification for appointing deputy ministers who don’t sit in Cabinet?
Mnangagwa has to show leadership by resisting the urge to retain the
inconsequential deputy ministers for the sole purpose of rewarding some of
his supporters.
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