Swearing in delayed as Mugabe tries to increase number of ministers

By Tichaona Sibanda
13 February 2009

The swearing in ceremony of cabinet ministers to the inclusive government was delayed by almost five hours on Friday in Harare, after Robert Mugabe attempted to increase the number of ministers from his ZANU PF party.
According to the Global Political Agreement, signed by all parties in September last year, ZANU PF was to have 15 cabinet portfolios, MDC-T 13 and the MDC three, to reflect the distribution of the popular vote in last year’s elections.

But when the ceremony eventually took place an extra minister for ZANU PF was sworn in. Mugabe had initially tried to have 22 sworn in. 13 from MDC-T were also sworn in along with three from MDC-M. The co-sharing Home Affairs Minister from MDC-T, Giles Mutsekwa, will be sworn in next week when he gets back home from a business trip outside Zimbabwe. 15 deputy ministers will be sworn in next week, eight from ZANU PF, six from MDC-T and one from MDC-M

MDC spokesman, Nelson Chamisa explained that ZANU PF got an extra minister of state, in return for the MDC getting 5 governorships, to ZANU PF’s 4. The GPA agreement was modified by the appointment of one minister each from ZANU PF and MDC-T, to share the running of the Ministry of Home Affairs. In addition, each party was expected to appoint a minister of state.

The cabinet list released by ZANU PF on Thursday night contained 22 names, giving Mugabe an extra six ministers. This was when the trouble began. An MDC MP who was present at the ceremony on Friday.said the process was completely disorganized and that guests were kept waiting for hours without being told what was happening.

Joseph Mugnai, Morgan Tsvangirai spokesman, said Mugabe arrived for Friday's ceremony with plans to swear-in seven ZANU-PF members as junior ministers, surprising his partners.

Eventually it was agreed that Mugabe drop five ministers from the list. Those dropped included David Parirenyatwa, former Health minister, Sylvester Nguni, Paul Mangwana, Flora Bhuka and John Nkomo.

The MDC-M had brought four nominees but only three; Welshman Ncube, David Coltart and Priscilla Misihairambwi-Mushonga were sworn in. Deputy party president Gibson Sibanda was not sworn in. No one could explain why.

Another MP told us the situation reflected what was to be expected in the new government, ‘mistrust and confusion.’

‘We sat there for hours and we sensed there were disagreements because officials kept coming and going outside the offices of the State House. This is a bad start to this government, I pray it works because from what I saw today, I see disaster ahead,’ the MP said.