News / National
Mnangagwa gives his henchman another lease of life
11 Sep 2023 at 16:51hrs | Views
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reinstated Owen 'Mudha' Ncube, a key associate, to a prominent government role, assigning him the position of Midlands Provincial Affairs minister. This marks Ncube's return to his initial ministerial post.
In January 2022, Mnangagwa had dismissed Ncube from his ministerial position due to allegations of intimidating individuals attending a Zanu PF provincial meeting aimed at confirming winners of provincial party elections. At the time, Misheck Sibanda, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, cited Ncube's "inappropriate conduct for a minister of government" as the reason for his immediate removal.
Since Ncube's expulsion last year, he had not been replaced in his role. However, his recent reappointment indicates Mnangagwa's willingness to reinstate him despite his prior dismissal.
Notably, the current Cabinet configuration of 26 ministries does not include the appointment of a State Security minister. This omission has raised suspicions that Mnangagwa may have centralized the oversight of Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) operations in his office, assuming direct control due to concerns of mistrust.
Before his appointment as Midlands Provincial Affairs minister, Ncube had allegedly been associated with a violent group known in the Midlands province as Al Shabaab. Additionally, Ncube is under sanctions by the U.S. State Department for his involvement in human rights abuses linked to political repression in Zimbabwe. He was designated under Executive Order 13469, and as a result, all his assets, property, and interests subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging with him.
Mnangagwa has also made other provincial appointments, including:
- Judith Ncube for Bulawayo
- Charles Tavengwa for Harare
- Ezra Chadzamira for Masvingo
- Nokuthula Matsikenyeri for Manicaland
- Apollonia Munzverengi for Masvingo East
- Marian Chombo for Mashonaland West
- Christopher Magomo for Mashonaland Central
- Richard Moyo for Matabeleland North
- Evelyn Ndlovu for Matabeleland South
In January 2022, Mnangagwa had dismissed Ncube from his ministerial position due to allegations of intimidating individuals attending a Zanu PF provincial meeting aimed at confirming winners of provincial party elections. At the time, Misheck Sibanda, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, cited Ncube's "inappropriate conduct for a minister of government" as the reason for his immediate removal.
Since Ncube's expulsion last year, he had not been replaced in his role. However, his recent reappointment indicates Mnangagwa's willingness to reinstate him despite his prior dismissal.
Before his appointment as Midlands Provincial Affairs minister, Ncube had allegedly been associated with a violent group known in the Midlands province as Al Shabaab. Additionally, Ncube is under sanctions by the U.S. State Department for his involvement in human rights abuses linked to political repression in Zimbabwe. He was designated under Executive Order 13469, and as a result, all his assets, property, and interests subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging with him.
Mnangagwa has also made other provincial appointments, including:
- Judith Ncube for Bulawayo
- Charles Tavengwa for Harare
- Ezra Chadzamira for Masvingo
- Nokuthula Matsikenyeri for Manicaland
- Apollonia Munzverengi for Masvingo East
- Marian Chombo for Mashonaland West
- Christopher Magomo for Mashonaland Central
- Richard Moyo for Matabeleland North
- Evelyn Ndlovu for Matabeleland South
Source - newzimbabwe
