Source: Why Mnangagwa chops and changes his Cabinet – The Standard
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s frequent dismal of ministers after he was reelected in the disputed August 2023 elections points to instability in his government and risks undermining policy continuity and institutional effectiveness, analysts have said.
Long serving minister Sithembiso Nyoni is the latest to lose her job under unclear circumstances after she was removed from the Environment, Climate and Wildlife portfolio.
Nyoni was fired on April 4 and this was announced through a brief press statement with no details of why she was removed.
The Zanu PF leader’s initial Cabinet of 26 ministers, including family members and cronies, has been reshuffled several times, the recent re-assignments being this month.
In 2023, Mnangagwa appointed his son David Mnangagwa as deputy Finance minister while his nephew, Tongai Mnangagwa, came in as deputy in the Tourism ministry.
Mnangagwa , who replaced the late president Robert Mugabe in 2017, has not provided explanations for the number of ministers he has sacked or re-assigned.
In April this year, Mnangagwa re-assigned Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs minister of State, Evelyn Ndlovu, to the Environment, Climate, and Wildlife ministry where she replaced Nyoni.
Ndlovu was replaced by Beitbridge East legislator, Albert Nguluvhe..
In March 2024, Mnangagwa had re-assigned Nyoni from the Industry and Trade ministry to Environment.
Environment minister and Zanu PF Matabeleland South chairperson, Mangaliso Ndlovu, was moved back to the Industry ministry.
In March this year, Mnangagwa removed Zimbabwe National Army commander, Lieutenant General Anselem Sanyatwe, in what observers said was a bold coup-proofing and power consolidation move.
Sanyatwe was made Sports minister, replacing Kirsty Coventry, who had been elected president of the International Olympics Committee.
Major General Emmanuel Matutu replaced Sanyatwe.
In January this year, Mnangagwa made significant changes to the Central Intelligence Organisation, and removed the country’s top spy Isaac Moyo.
He replaced him with former Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) boss Fulton Mangwanya.
On the same day, he re-assigned ministers July Moyo (Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare) and Edgar Moyo (Energy and Power Development).
The two exchanged ministries.
In February 2024, motor mouth Zanu PF spokesperson, Christopher Mutsvangwa, was fired as War Veterans minister amid allegations of shady dealings with Chinese companies and undermining Information minister Jenfan Muswere.
Muswere, a Mnangagwa loyalist, took over from Mutsvangwa’s wife, Monica, in September 2023.
Monica was re-assigned to Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development ministry, a move seen as a demotion from the influential Information portfolio.
In April 2024, Mnangagwa re-assigned his loyalist Daniel Garwe to the Local Government and Public Works ministry from National Housing and Social Amenities.
Winston Chitando was reassigned to the Mines and Mining Development ministry from Local Government.
Zhemu Soda was reassigned to the National Housing and Social Amenities portfolio from Mines.
Mnangagwa also made some deputy minister appointments with Musa Ncube coming in as National Housing and Social Amenities deputy minister, Headman Moyo (War Veterans ministry) and Yeukai Simbanegavi (Energy and Power Development).
In July 2024, Bubi legislator Simelisizwe Sibanda was removed as Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development deputy over tribal statements.
Sibanda was re-appointed in August after he apologised.
In October 2024, ministers Fredrick Shava (Foreign Affairs) and Amon Murwiwa (Higher Education) exchanged portfolios.
Political analyst Pardon Taodzera said Mnangagwa’s frequent changes to his Cabinet showed that loyalty and immediate utility outweigh long-term stability.
“The frequent reshuffles under President Mnangagwa suggest a leader, who is either dissatisfied with ministerial performance or is strategically rotating loyalists to prevent any single figure from accumulating too much power,” Taodzera said.
“This could indicate a lack of confidence in his team or an attempt to balance competing factions within Zanu PF.
“Either way, it risks undermining policy continuity and institutional effectiveness. “
Legal expert Aaron Hamauswa said the Cabinet re-assignments pointed to instability.
“While some may argue this reflects a meritocratic approach (replacing underperformers), the frequency suggests instability rather than strategic refinement,” Hamauswa said.
“Compared to Mugabe’s era where ministers often stayed for years despite inefficiency, this new trend may signal either greater accountability or deeper governance challenges.”
Political analyst Rashweat Mukundu echoed similar sentiments.
“Any regular or consistent reassignment of the executive, that is ministerial appointments, clearly indicates some level of instability,” Mukundu said.
“The expectation is that the president would have applied his mind and consulted his advisors before appointing anyone to any ministerial position, and if you then see regular reassignments, dismissal and appointments, then that points to some level of dysfunctionality in the government systems and some levels of instability.”
“There is a lot of corruption that is going on in Zimbabwe, a lot of manipulation of the constitution, a lack of accountability and now this Zanu PF succession…you then see that this government has moved away from a merit based appointment to rather kleptocratic system where ministers are appointed to be stooges and not be thinkers and visionaries in their own right.”.
Political analyst Gideon Chitanga said the Cabinet reshuffles did not make any policy sense.
“It looks like a process of recycling for political interests and not for significant economic sense,” Chitanga said.
“These changes are insignificant, if anything its Mnangagwa positioning whoever he wants not necessarily the people who are going out or coming in will make any difference.”
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