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Mavhaire out of touch with reality

Opinion & Analysis
ENERGY and Power Development minister Dzikamai Mavhaire is “out of touch with reality” regarding improving power generation in the country

ENERGY and Power Development minister Dzikamai Mavhaire is “out of touch with reality” regarding improving power generation in the country given his unconvincing responses in the National Assembly on Wednesday.

NewsDay Editorial

Mavhaire was humiliated by Kuwadzana East MP Nelson Chamisa after he showed that he was completely out of touch with what is happening in his ministry, yet the country is battling incessant blackouts because Zimbabwe cannot generate enough electricity.

Provision of electricity is no laughing matter and Mavhaire should know that. He should be ready to provide answers to the public.

What happened during the debate exposed President Robert Mugabe’s inclination to appointing individuals for political expediency rather that astuteness in problem-solving.

What was clear from Mavhaire’s performance was that there are no measures in place to mitigate power rationing in the short term, as least as far as he knows.

Mavhaire displayed worrying immaturity for a man entrusted with providing power to revive our comatose industry, something that cannot be done without a constant and reliable supply of power.

The electorate will surely chastise Mavhaire for lack of seriousness. From what the minister told Parliament there is no light at the end of tunnel.

Clearly, power rationing will continue for a long time if the strategic business of power generation is left in the hands of clueless individuals such as Mavhaire.

Zimbabweans need solutions; what the minister will do to alleviate their plight, not to play to the gallery.

It goes without saying that Cabinet ministers need technical knowledge to be effective in their portfolios.

It can be understood that Cabinet formation has always been preceded and succeeded by a debate on the criteria for choosing ministers.

It is always argued that those heading finance and commerce, science and technology, health and education should be experts in their respective fields. Yet others point out that ministers only need to be good managers and able leaders with the ability to make and implement the right decisions at the right time.

Zimbabweans expect their ministers to be competent enough to manage important responsibilities. Although competence does not necessarily mean holding a degree, at least leaders should possess the ability to deliver, which in turn depends on the capacity to understand the nature and importance of a challenge and then being able to address it.

It is important that ministers have management skills and leadership qualities.

And at times, in-depth technical knowledge becomes a liability rather than an asset as technical people tend to focus on micro issues whereas ministers need to focus on broad policy issues.

We do not think that ministers are meant to be technical gurus (but) they are meant to be a bridge between political leadership and permanent bureaucracy on the one hand, and between people and the government on the other.