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Innocent Ruwende Harare Bureau
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has fired Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Masvingo Province.

Bhasikiti, the 17th minister or deputy minister dropped from government following Zanu-PF’s congress last December, had engaged in conduct that was “inconsistent with his prescribed duties and functions”, the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda announced in a statement yesterday.

Sibanda said: “In terms of Section 108(1a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, His Excellency the President has terminated the employment of Honourable Kudakwashe Bhasikiti-Chuma as Minister of State for Masvingo Province, as his conduct had become inconsistent with his prescribed duties and functions.

“The termination is with immediate effect.”

Former Vice-President Joice Mujuru was the biggest casualty of a Cabinet reshuffle last December which saw her kicked out of government along with 15 other ministers and deputy ministers.

The group had been linked to industrial-scale corruption and illegal attempts to grab power from President Mugabe.

At a Politburo meeting last year, President Mugabe told Bhasikiti that he was “in the wrong basket”, in apparent reference to his links to the “treacherous cabal” which he said was led by Mujuru.

President Mugabe said: “Why are you in the wrong basket, Mr Bhasikiti?”

A tense Cde Bhasikiti told him that he had worked on a university thesis whose content proves his commitment to Zanu-PF.

“I am consistent, President,” he replied.

President Mugabe, however, brushed him off.

“You should get out of the wrong basket. I hear that you are not consistent. Get into the right basket,” President Mugabe said.