The buzzword in Zimbabwe since the swearing-in of Emmerson Mnangagwa as new president has been ‘change’.
Mnangagwa described his seminal inauguration as Zimbabwe’s ‘second birth’ following the ouster of long-time leader Robert Mugabe, as a wave of optimism swept across the country.
But the belief in a new post-Mugabe Zimbabwe wavered on Thursday with the naming of cabinet by Mnangagwa. A mainstay of the Mugabe administration, Mnangagwa, nicknamed the ‘Crocodile’ as a result of his ruthless cunning, reverted to ZANU-PF bigwigs and top military officials for major cabinet roles to the disappointment of many.
While outrage greeted his decision to keep a sizeable number of ministers from Mugabe’s former cabinet – many Zimbabweans were left incredulous with the choice of Youth Minister – 68-year-old Sithembiso Nyoni. The irony of appointing Nyoni to the Youth Ministry wasn’t lost on Zimbabweans, who now think their dream of change has fast become a nightmare.
It also comes as Mnangagwa called for dynamism to governance and management of the public sector if the country is to survive in a competitive world.
For some, the idea of a 68-year-old Youth Minister was ludicrous, while others felt age is of little consequence when assigning ministerial portfolio.
Of course, there are cynics who think it’s a little too much to expect change from Mnangagwa – a product of the Mugabe school.
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