President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed businessman and ZANU PF Central Committee member Kudakwashe Tagwirei as Minister of Economic Development and Investment Promotion.
To make room for Tagwirei, Mnangagwa has split the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion in two. Mthuli Ncube stays on as Minister of Finance, while Tagwirei takes over the economic development and investment portfolio.
The Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Martin Rushwaya, announced the changes in two separate statements on Thursday evening.
“In terms of Section 104, Subsection (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, His Excellency the President, Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa has appointed Kudakwashe Tagwirei as Minister of Economic Development and Investment Promotion. The appointment is with immediate effect,” Rushwaya said.
In the second statement, he said: “In terms of Section 104, Subsection (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, His Excellency the President, Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, has reassigned Hon Professor Mthuli Ncube as Minister of Finance. The reassignment is with immediate effect.”
Tagwirei’s new portfolio gives him influence over Zimbabwe’s investment drive. His ministry will oversee ZIDA, the agency responsible for attracting and facilitating investment, along with investment promotion, economic development and potentially major projects.
Ncube will be responsible for presenting the National Budget to Parliament, raising money through taxes, duties and levies, and public spending and financial control, among other functions.
Tagwirei is one of 10 senators appointed by President Mnangagwa in August. The other nine are Jabulani Sibanda, Godwills Masimirembwa, Mary Mliswa, Nokuthula Matsikenyere, Lucy Chitaga, retired General Gibson Mashingaidze, Makosini Hlongwane, Brilliant Dube and Irene Mutumba.
COMMENTS
I welcome the appointment of Tagwirei to this most consequential ministry with strong hope for paradigm shift in impetus, scope, depth and distribution of national development. He comes in with a unique characteristic that is absent in many ordinary ministers- POWER to decide, push and implement. He also is a well travelled person who sees what should happen back here. This country generates a lot of money but development performance is far below expectations. The state of country roads is criminal offence to the people of this country please work on that. What really is expensive about making roads mfana you school me up. Quarry stone is a free and abundant commodity. Tar is a by-product of coal. Why not use idle soldiers to work on roads if there is no money? On roads NO, NO, NO boys. Big NO. If you do well mfana I may give you my daughter (World’s Luckiest Award). Lastly tell our rich boys to humble up a little bit not behaving like rats on heat in front of struggling fellow country men and women. Remember some people died fasting for this country boys ( undeclared spiritual heroes). Dedication song by System Tazvida “Muchandinzvawo here Mwari”.