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Farirai Machivenyika Harare Bureau—
PRESIDENT Mugabe yesterday appointed a 33-member Politburo and his two deputies, Cdes Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, who will also be the new Vice Presidents in government. The announcement of a new Cabinet set up is expected today including those who will replace former Vice President Joice Mujuru who was booted out of government alongside eight others for expending their time on graft, factional politics, and undermining the authority of the President whom they sought to depose or assassinate.

The President, who is also Zanu-PF First Secretary, made the announcement at the ruling party’s headquarters during an extra-ordinary meeting of the new Central Committee elected at the 6th Zanu-PF National People’s Congress that ended at the weekend.

He also abolished the post of national chairman and said his two deputies would take turns to chair party proceedings.

Cdes Mnangagwa and Mphoko are expected to be sworn in as State Vice Presidents at State House in Harare tomorrow.

The new Politburo announced yesterday is made up of the President and his two deputies who will be the presidium, 22 heads of departments, committee members and also includes three deputy heads of departments.

Previously, the presidium consisted of the President and his two deputies, the National Chairman and the Secretary for Administration.

The President started by announcing the abolishment of the position of National Chairman before naming the presidium.

“We’re reducing that top heaviness, the two vice presidents have no real function except that they’re my deputies and I can give them work to do. We feel it’s not necessary that if you’ve the two vice presidents you’ve the chairman. They can rotate so we want to do without the chairman,” President Mugabe said.

“At the top is President Mugabe. There’re two vice presidents one of whom would be drawn naturally from Zapu and one from Zanu and from Zanu it’s Emmerson Mnangagwa and we say congratulations to him and from the Zapu side it’s Report (Phelekezela) Mphoko.

“It’s the three who’ll be known as the presidium now, the rest would be heads of departments.”

President Mugabe said a new department for war veterans, ex-detainess and ex-restrictees had been established to look at the welfare of the former freedom fighters.

Earlier on, President Mugabe had told the Central Committee and new Politburo members not to use their positions to devise sinister plots as done by former VP Mujuru and her cabal.

“We’re in the driving seat and we must actually drive and not use our headquarters to plot and destroy the party. We’ve taken action on some but we now do know how the machinery of Mai Mujuru was running through vaMutasa and others here at headquarters, but we too at the top, we’ll be vigilant,” he said.

The Zanu-PF National People’s Congress amended the party constitution to allow the President to appoint his deputies and national chairman to kill factionalism by ensuring that the party has one centre of power.

The practice of electing the vice presidents and others had become a breeding ground for factionalism, individualism and competing or multiple centres of power that afflicted Zanu-PF in the run up to Congress.

Former VP Mujuru and former ministers Didymus Mutasa (Presidential Affairs), Francis Nhema (Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment) Webster Shamu (Information Communication Technologies, Postal and Courier Services), Dzikamai Mavhaire (Energy and Power Development) Simbaneuta Mudarikwa (Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs), Nicholas Goche (Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare), Olivia Muchena (Higher and Tertiary Education) and Munacho Mutezo (Deputy Minister Energy and Power Development) were dismissed from government on allegations of corruption and plotting to topple President Mugabe.

Meanwhile, President Mugabe said he would be making further announcements today or tomorrow on the new Cabinet set up.

“I’ll be making more announcements between tomorrow (today) and Friday to fill in the positions of the ministers we’ve withdrawn from duty. I can now say with regards to the vice presidents they automatically become the vice presidents in government.

“These, I would want them sworn in on Friday vanofanira kutora mhiko dzekuzvipira (they have to be sworn in), truly loyal,” he said.

Cde Ignatius Chombo becomes Secretary for Administration, replacing Cde Mutasa who failed to make it to the Central Committee, while former secretary for the Commissariat Cde Webster Shamu was replaced by Cde Saviour Kasukuwere. Cde Kasukuwere was Secretary for Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment in the last Politburo.

The late Cde David Karimanzira, who died in March 2011, was replaced by Cde Obert Mpofu for the post of Secretary for Finance, while the new Secretary for External Relations is Cde Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, replacing the late Cde Stan Mudenge who died in October 2012.

Cde Kembo Mohadi is now Secretary for National Security, taking over from Cde Sydney Sekeramayi who is now Secretary for War Veterans, Detainees, Restrictees and their Welfare where he will be deputised by Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa.

The new Secretary for Transport and Social Welfare is Cde Oppah Muchinguri after relinquishing her post of Women’s Affairs secretary. She takes over from Cde Nicholas Goche who was booted out of government.

Former National Chairman Cde Simon Khaya Moyo takes over the post of Secretary for Information and Publicity, replacing Rugare Gumbo who was expelled from the party.

Cde Patrick Chinamasa assumes the post of Secretary for Legal Affairs, taking over from Cde Mnangagwa who is now Vice President.

Cde Mike Bimha was appointed Secretary of the newly created post of Implementation and Economic Empowerment Policy, while Cde Josaya D Hungwe takes over the post of Secretary for Production and Labour which was held by fired Cde Dzikamai Mavhaire.

The new Secretary for Health, Child Welfare and the Elderly is Cde Cleveria Chizema, who takes over from Cde David Parirenyatwa.

The Secretary for Economic Affairs is Cde Christopher Mushohwe who takes over from Cde Mpofu.

The First Lady Grace Mugabe is Secretary for Women’s Affairs while the Secretary for Youth Affairs is Cde Pupurai Togarepi, who takes over from Cde Absolom Sikhosana.

The Secretary for Education is now Cde Joram McDonald Gumbo, who takes over from Cde Sikhanyiso Ndlovu.

Cde Thokozile Mathuthu is Secretary for Gender and Culture, while Secretary for Welfare for the Disabled and Disadvantaged Persons is Cde Joshua Malinga who takes over from the late Cde Stanley Sakupwanya who died in July this year.

The Secretary for Land Reform and Resettlement is now Cde Cain Mathema, taking over from Cde Chombo while the ousted Dr Olivia Muchena was replaced by Professor Jonathan Moyo who took over as Secretary for Science and Technology.

Cde Sithembiso Nyoni retained her post as Secretary for Business Liaison and Development while Cde Prisca Mupfumira is the Secretary for Environment and Tourism.

Other Politburo members are; Deputy Secretary for War Veterans, Detainees, Restrictees and their Welfare, Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa, Deputy Secretary for Youths, Cde Kudzanai Chipanga and Deputy Secretary for Women’s Affairs Cde Eunice Sandi Moyo.

The Committee members are Cdes Tsitsi Muzenda, George Rutanhire, Shuvai Mahofa and David Parirenyatwa.