President Robert Mugabe yesterday upgraded Psychomotor minister Josiah Hungwe to a full Cabinet minister bringing to two the number of Cabinet ministers from Masvingo.
Everson Mushava Masvingo had lost a Cabinet slot when Energy minister Dzikamai Mavhaire was fired in 2014, leaving Tourism minister Walter Mzembi as the sole minister from the province.
Hungwe was sworn in at State House together with commissioners of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) and National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC).
Hungwe was appointed minister in 2013 after Zanu PF’s electoral victory, but did not sit in Cabinet. The Psychomotor minister will now attend Cabinet meetings after his elevation.
“It means more areas of responsibility that will cut across all sectors of the economy,” Hungwe said.
“I must mobilise and we are in the new area of change, particularly in education and new skills.”
Job Whabira was sworn in as Zacc chairperson, while former Speaker of Parliament, Cyril Ndebele was sworn in as NPRC head.
Former ZBC news anchor Nanette Silukhuni, Federation of Non-Governmental Organisations president Goodson Nguni, former anti-corruption commission chairman Denford Chirindo, Cathy Muchechetere, Farai Mashonganyika, Christine Fundira and Boyana Ndou were sworn in as Zacc commissioners.
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Lillian Chigwedere, Patience Chiradza, Choice Ndoro, Charles Masunungure, Godfrey Chada, Leslie Ncube and Godfrey Chekenyere were sworn in as members of the NPRC.
The NPRC has a 10-year life span from 2013 when the new Constitution was enacted. In appointing Ndebele, Mugabe reversed the selection of Bishop Emeritus Ambrose Moyo as NPRC chairperson, following an outcry that his appointment was unlawful, as he was not a holder of a law degree as stipulated in the Constitution.
Non-governmental organisations complained at the delay in the operationalisation of the NPRC, saying Zimbabwe needed to address past rights violations to build sustainable peace that would be a bedrock for national development.
Zacc had been operating without commissioners for more than two years, also causing a public outcry over Mugabe’s inertia in stamping out corruption.
Whabira and Ndebele said they would only comment after meeting their responsible ministers despite that they are supposed to operate independent of government.
After the swearing-in ceremony, Mugabe met a Ghanaian reggae artiste, Blakk Rasta, who is set to perform in Harare tomorrow in honour of the Zanu PF leader, who turned 92 on Sunday.
