MIDWEEK REPORTER
HARARE-The United Zimbabwe Alliance (UZA) has issued a hard hitting statement against President Mnangagwa for nepotism, appointing inept ministers and setting up a male-dominated and bloated cabinet.
UZA is the opposition political party which contested in the just ended August 23 and 24 harmonised elections.
The party’s leader Elisabeth Valerio was among the presidential aspirants after she won a High Court case to contest the watershed plebiscite.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, UZA said Mnangagwa’s new cabinet does not meet the expectations of Zimbabweans who are suffering from economic malaise and a moribund local currency.
“President Mnangagwa’s new cabinet fails to meet the expectations of many Zimbabweans who are suffering from a collapsing economy and a moribund local currency.
“UZA had hoped President Mnangagwa’s cabinet would show, at least, his concern and efforts to turn around the economy and the fortunes of the people of Zimbabwe, especially young people who bear the brunt of rising unemployment,’’ reads the statement.
UZA also spewed venom on President Mnangagwa for appointing his son and nephew as deputy ministers.
“The President’s brazen display of nepotism by appointing his son David Kudakwashe Mnangagwa as the Deputy Finance Minister and his nephew Tongai Mafidhi Mnangagwa as Deputy Minister of Tourism and Hospitality is synonymous with dynastic succession and should never be condoned in a democratic Zimbabwe.
“President Mnangagwa’s cabinet essentially is a reshuffling of the same team that spearheaded the current economic meltdown,” further reads the statement.
UZA said it expected the President to trim the cabinet given the volatile economic situation prevailing in the country.
“Appointing 26 cabinet ministers and 10 provincial ministers in a country already burdened with economic malaise proves that either President Mnangagwa is out of touch with reality or has no regard for the voice of the people.
“UZA would have expected President Mnangagwa to trim the size of his cabinet.”
The party also lamented underrepresentation of women in the new cabinet.
“President Mnangagwa’s cabinet ministers include only 6 women and 20 men. This contradicts past government pronouncements and stakeholder efforts to achieve gender balance in the governance of Zimbabwe,” added UZA.
UZA has called Mnangagwa to urgently consider the creation of a lean cabinet, 50/50 gender balance in appointments and withdrawal of old ministers.
“As UZA, we call upon President Mnangagwa to urgently consider the following; disband and combine redundant ministries to create a lean cabinet, endure 50/50 gender balance in appointments, withdraw appointment of ministers who are past their prime to pave way for accomplished young ministers who have the capacity to bring forward new innovative ideas…….,” reads the statement.
The appointment of cabinet ministers by President Mnangagwa early this week drew mixed reactions from people of all walks of life.
