Minister demoted but retained as consultant in the President's Office

By Violet Gonda

12 August 2005

In typical Mugabe style, the Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Sithembiso Nyoni has been demoted from cabinet but at the same time retained in the same position as a consultant. Mugabe's appointment of Nyoni as a minister was against the constitution. Un-elected ministers can legally hold on to their government job for a maximum 3 months only. Her position has expired since she was appointed in April after the disputed March 31st election.

Mugabe has been trying to quickly amend the constitution to create a new senate. Critics say this is to create positions for ZANU-PF officials who lost in the elections and for his cronies. Nyoni lost in the Bulawayo south elections, gaining only 20% of the vote. She wound up in parliament through the backdoor.

The Financial Gazette reported Thursday that Nyoni has however been retained as a consultant in the President's Office and would still oversee the SMEs portfolio. She also retains all the trimmings of ministerial office. Nyoni is likely to bounce back into Cabinet if she is appointed into the proposed 66-member Senate that is widely expected to accommodate ZANU PF heavyweights who could not make it into Mugabe's bloated government.