MDC Senator for Mashonaland West, Voice Chinake on Thursday asked why President Emmerson Mnangagwa appointed as cabinet ministers individuals with a criminal history and whose banks collapsed with people losing their savings in the process.
Though Chinake did no mention any names, it is thought that he was referring to Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube as the Minister’s bank, Barbican Bank collapsed in 2005.
Speaking in the Senate during ministers’ question time last Thursday, Chinake asked the leader of government business in parliament Ziyambi Ziyambi:
What plans do we have to ensure that when the President of Zimbabwe is choosing Ministers, he does not choose persons with previous convictions like those who had their banks liquidated and people lost their savings?
What is Government policy on choosing Ministers?
In his response, Ziyambi said President Mnangagwa is guided by the constitution when making appointments to the executive. He said:
When this Constitution was drafted, all the Zimbabweans participated and people voted for the Referendum in which a 90% yes was attained.
The President was given powers to choose his ministers. It is not written that people with previous convictions or those who stole chicken in their rural areas will not be chosen to be ministers.
This Constitution also outlines the expected qualifications that qualify one to be a minister and that is what the President adheres to when choosing ministers.
So, I would urge the Hon. Senator to go and read the Constitution of Zimbabwe, he will be guided accordingly that our President follows what is in the Constitution.