On 30 November 2017, Emmerson Mnangagwa, who succeeded ousted President Robert Mugabe, formed a new cabinet.[1] On 3 December 2017, Mnangagwa replaced two of his ministers amidst criticism by opposition parties.[2] On 7 September 2018, President Mnangagwa appointed a new cabinet after winning 2018 presidential elections. The new 20-member cabinet, along with 13 deputy ministers and nine provincial ministers, was sworn in on 11 September 2018.[3]
The President appoints two vice Presidents, ministers, and deputy ministers; and may dismiss them. The President also assigns their powers and functions, including the administration of any Act of Parliament or of any Ministry or department, but the President may reserve to himself or herself the administration of an Act, Ministry or department. Ministers and Deputy Ministers are appointed from among Senators or Members of the National Assembly, but up to five, chosen for their professional skills and competence, may be appointed from outside Parliament.
Ministers and Deputy Ministers who are not Members of Parliament may sit and speak, but not vote, in the Senate or the National Assembly.
A member of the Cabinet is appointed by the President to be the leader of government business in the National Assembly.
Emmerson Mnangagwa was elected President for the first time in his own right in elections held on 30 July 2018 (after previously finishing the term of Robert Mugabe in July 2018). The election result was disputed and challenged before the Zimbabwean Constitutional court. The court ruled in Mnangagwa's favor and he was sworn in on 26 August 2018.[11]
On 31 August in accordance with the constitution, Mnangagwa appointed and swore in Constantine Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi as first and second Vice President respectively. The 2013 Constitution provides that any presidential election within ten years after the first election (the first election being 2013 after the adoption of the 2013 Constitution) the two Vice Presidents are appointed and not elected with the president. From 2023 onward the President and the two vice presidents will be elected on the same ticket and in the same election as the President.[12]
Sithembiso Nyoni – Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development[13]
In making the announcement Mnangagwa stated his belief that he had chosen "the right team to head the ministries and is optimistic that they will deliver".[14]
Reactions to the Second Mnangagwa Cabinet
Jonathan Moyo
Former Minister of Higher & Tertiary Education Jonathan Moyo reacted on Twitter saying "THREE LOSERS standout from Mnangagwa's newly appointed Cabinet:
1. DEVOLUTION has lost out; appointment of 10 provincial ministers violates s268 of the Constitution.
2. CHIWENGA sidelined; with his picks left out.
3. TRIBAL BALANCE compromised; as Mnangagwa's cronies dominate!"[15]
Jonathan Moyo also offered advice to the newly appointed Minister of Finance, Professor Mthuli Ncube warning him that as an outsider he will find it difficult to implement policies, and that "the Ministry of Finance does not have the high-end skills necessary for an economic ministry in a country with Zimbabwe's intractable socioeconomic problems; compounded by political malaise. There's no craft-competence from the permanent secretary, down to the shop floor".[16]
Health Minister Moyo's credentials
On the online publication, ZimLive.com journalist Lindie Whiz wrote an article in which she says "Zimbabwe's new Health Minister, Obadiah Moyo, is an academic fraud who does not have the qualification he claims to possess, according to the United States embassy." A medical doctor is quoted by the article casting doubt on Moyo's qualifications[17]
Moyo claims to be a pathologist but is not listed in the Medical and Dental Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe registry and has not practiced as such in Zimbabwe.
Post-coup Mnangagwa Cabinet (2017-2018)
Following the 2017 Zimbabwean coup d'état which ousted Robert Mugabe from power, Emmerson Mnangagwa was sworn in as President and appointed a new cabinet which consisted of two vice presidents, appointed ministers of government, and provincial affairs ministers.
Robert Mugabe was sworn in as President after the 31 July 2013 elections. He appointed a new Cabinet of 26 ministers, which down from the 33 under Zimbabwe Government of National Unity of 2009. The new Cabinet consisted of the following:[19]
