Obert Mpofu redeployed to Zanu-PF HQ

SEVERAL former ministers who did not make it into the 20-member Cabinet announced by President Mnangagwa last week were yesterday redeployed to work at the Zanu-PF headquarters as full time employees, as the ruling party seeks to reinvigorate itself.

The party's Secretary for Information and Publicity Simon Khaya Moyo announced the development yesterday following an extra-ordinary session of the Politburo held at the party's headquarters. He said 11 departments of the party would be now manned by full time workers, who include some of the former Government ministers.

"Now that the harmonised elections are behind us, we as a party found it necessary to ensure that we map our way forward," said Khaya Moyo.

"As the party rebuilds itself for the future, the Politburo has resolved that Zanu-PF transforms and positions itself in the rapidly changing social, economic and political environment by ensuring that 11 departments here at Headquarters are manned by full time senior party stalwarts, who are in terms of the party's Constitution heads of our secretariats of these departments."

Former Home Affairs, Culture and Heritage Minister Obert Mpofu will head the party's administration department. Other full time party workers would be Lieutenant General (Retired) Engelbert Rugeje (National Commissariat), Patrick Chinamasa (Finance), Khaya Moyo (Information and Publicity), Simbarashe Mumbengegwi (External Relations), Paul Mangwana (Legal Affairs), Christopher Mushohwe (Economic Affairs) and Douglas Mahiya (War Veterans).

Khaya Moyo said the deputy secretary for Youth Affairs Lewis Mathuthu would be also working full time, in charge of the youth department.

He said heads for National Security and Women's Affairs would be announced later. Khaya Moyo said the announcement made by the Politburo was in tandem with the swearing-in ceremony of the new Cabinet by the President and Zanu-PF First Secretary Mnangagwa at State House yesterday.

"The party and Government will now have to work as a thoroughly oiled machine, bearing in mind that Government is a product of the party," he said.

"The party is always supreme because it derives its authority from the people, as they always say from the people we come and to the people we shall go."

This, Khaya Moyo said, ensured that there was harmony in operations, while also ensuring that party policies were implemented by Government.

"This is not a new phenomenon here, you will find it in other countries such as South Africa and China, so that there is always smooth running of the affairs of the State," he said.

Khaya Moyo reminded the nation of President Mnangagwa's "Zimbabwe is Open for Business" mantra and appealed to all the people to unite, cultivate peace and focus on development.

"We have got one country that is Zimbabwe and we must share it in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity," he said.

"We must build this family called Zimbabwe as a people. Without unity, there is no development, without peace, there is no development, without development there is no prosperity. Our focus is now on rebuilding the economy."