Nick Mangwana, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services has dismissed reports suggesting that President Emmerson Mnangagwa reshuffled cabinet.
He speaks amid reports that Rugeje has been appointed the new Prisons Chief, while his predecessor Paradzai Zimhondi is reported to have been appointed the new Lands and Agriculture Minister. The reports also claim that Perrance Shiri who is heading the Lands Ministry has been appointed as the new Defence Minister while the Information minister Senator Monica Mutsvangwa is the new Health Minister.
Defence Minister, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri is said to be the new Information minister. The president last reshuffled cabinet in November last year. In response to the reports, Mangwana said:
The President has not effected a Cabinet Reshuffle or made any ministerial appointments/re-appointments. If/when that happens, the Nation will be advised as is normal through his Office.
The rumours come as the opposition, the citizenry and other stakeholders are calling for the dismissal of some government officials which are accused of engaging in underhand dealings and failing to turn the country’s fortunes around.
Some of the government officials whose resignation or dismissal has for long been called for are John Mangudya and Mthuli Ncube, in that order, Reserve Bank Governor and Finance Minister over their unpopular finance and fiscal policies.
Meanwhile, some critics are calling for the entire cabinet to go saying it is “incompetent and corrupt,” characteristics that have plunged the country into socio-economic and political crises.