Zanu-PF attempts to reassign Zimbabwean ministries, MDC angered

Zanu-PF, which until recently had complete control over all Zimbabwean cabinet posts, has reassigned control of these in a process separate from the power sharing negotiations which are taking place. This move seems aimed at giving Zanu-PF, the party lead by Robert Mugabe, control of the most important government ministries. The move will not be official, however, until approved in the power sharing negotiations.

The move was announced yesterday in The Herald, a newspaper run by Zanu-PF, and was criticized heavily from the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), which is led by Morgan Tsvangirai.

"The MDC dismisses the Zanu PF's unilaterally gazetted wish list of ministries, which is a betrayal of the wishes, expectations and aspirations of the majority of Zimbabweans," said the MDC in a press release. "The Herald-published list of ministries is a product of unilateral, contemptuous and outrageous machinations by Zanu PF. In fact, it is a giant act of madness which puts the whole deal into jeopardy. Zanu PF cannot nocturnally allocate ministries barely hours after the three principals agreed to disagree by referring the matter to the mediator after a logjam over all key ministries."

"Zanu PF's ploy is to preempt the visit of the mediator and any attempt by SADC to try and help Zimbabweans locate exit points to the current impasse," added the press release.

Zanu-PF allocation of ministries

Ministry Controlling Party DefenceZanu-PF Home AffairsZanu-PF Foreign AffairsZanu-PF TransportZanu-PF Local Government and Urban DevelopmentZanu-PF Mines and Mining DevelopmentZanu-PF Lands, Agriculture and ResettlementZanu-PF Environment, Natural Resources and TourismZanu-PF Higher and Tertiary EducationZanu-PF Small and Medium Enterprises and Co-operative DevelopmentZanu-PF Justice and Legal AffairsZanu-PF Media, Information and PublicityZanu-PF Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community DevelopmentZanu-PF Youth Development, Indigenisation and EmpowermentZanu-PF Constitutional and Parliamentary AffairsMDC Economic Planning and Investment PromotionMDC Energy and Power DevelopmentMDC Health and Child WelfareMDC Labour and Social WelfareMDC Water Resources Development and ManagementMDC Public ServiceMDC Sport, Arts and CultureMDC State Enterprise and ParastatalsMDC Science and Technology DevelopmentMDC Information Communication TechnologyMDC Public WorksMDC National Housing and Social AmenitiesMDC Regional Integration and International Co-operationMDC EducationMDC Industry and CommerceMDC FinanceNot allocated