President Robert Mugabe. PHOTO | FILE Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has appointed 10 new ministers to complete a reshuffle of his Ca...
President Robert Mugabe. PHOTO | FILE
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has appointed 10 new ministers to complete a reshuffle of his Cabinet.
The appointments follow an unprecedented purge that saw President Mugabe fire long-serving Vice-President Joice Mujuru.
Ms Mujuru was sacked early this week together with eight Cabinet ministers after they were accused of plotting to assassinate the 90-year-old leader.
President Mugabe on Wednesday appointed Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa as the first Vice-President to replace Ms Mujuru.
He also appointed Mr Phelekezela Mphoko to replace the late John Nkomo, who died last year.
Mr Mnangagwa, a feared former spy boss, would double as Justice minister while Mr Mphoko, a career diplomat, was handed the National Healing, Peace and Reconciliation portfolio.
The veteran ruler created a new ministry of Welfare Services for war veterans, war collaborators and former detainees, which was handed to one of Ms Mujuru’s outspoken critics, Christopher Mutsvangwa.
The humiliation
The new ministers were to be sworn in later Friday.
Ms Mujuru became the first Vice-President in Zimbabwe’s history to be removed from office.
Her four predecessors died in office.
Ms Mujuru, who was appointed Vice-President in 2004, said her dismissal was political as she had done nothing wrong.
She has vowed to remain a in Zanu-PF despite the humiliation.
The purging of top Zanu-PF officials has been linked to the rise of First Lady Grace Mugabe who has been appointed secretary for women’s affairs in the Zanu-PF politburo.
President Mugabe’s wife has been associated with a Zanu-PF faction led by Mr Mnangagwa and the Cabinet reshuffle could be an indicator of who will take over from Zimbabwe’s only ruler since independence if he decides to retire.
However, the President has been endorsed to lead Zanu-PF for another five years, which means he would be the party’s presidential candidate in the 2018 elections.
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