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Zimbabwean premier reshuffles cabinet
Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has dismissed four of his cabinet members as part of ministerial reshuffle in the country's coalition government. Energy Minister Elias Mudzuri has been relieved form his duties only days after a nationwide power failure during the World Cup, a Press TV correspondent reported on Wednesday. However, the Zimbabwean premier has brushed aside speculations that his energy minster was dismissed over the blackout, saying the change was "to strengthen the performance" of his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). The MDC, whose top politicians hold half of the posts in the cabinet, signed a power-sharing deal with African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) led by President Robert Mugabe last year. The outgoing energy minister will be replaced by Minister for Economic Planning Elton Mangoma, who will in turn be replaced by the MDC's former Deputy Secretary General Tapiwa Mashakada. Among the ministers who were sacked was Housing Minister Fidelis Mhashu. Tsvangirai has denied that the changes could be linked to power wrangles within his party. "I want you to disabuse this notion that any redeployment is victimization....the move was strategic and meant to allow them to focus their energies on party issues ahead of next elections," he said. The new ministers are expected to be sworn in by Mugabe on Thursday. Posted by: Fred 2010-06-24 |
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