President Mnangagwa appoints son, nephew as deputy ministers

There was an uproar in Zimbabwe on Monday, September 11, after President Emmerson Mnangagwa appointed his son, David Kudakwashe Mnangagwa, as the deputy finance minister.

Zimbabwe citizens criticized the president’s appointment of his son to cabinet after his re-election.

The issue has sparked an uproar online, with people from other parts of the world commenting about nepotism concerns within the Zimbabwe government.

David Mnangagwa, 34, will serve as the deputy to Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube.

At the same time, the president’s nephew, Tongai Mafidhi Mnangagwa, will serve as deputy minister of tourism and hospitality.

Ambassador Amina Mohamed, Kenya’s Former Cabinet Secretary for Education and Foreign Affairs, at a press conference in Harare, Zimbabwe. She is leading the Commonwealth Observer Mission in Zimbabwe elections. PHOTO/COUERTESY

Local media have reported that the two deputy ministers from the president’s family are part of the entire cabinet that consists of 26 ministries.

In the new lineup, Mthuli Ncube was retained as the finance minister while the ruling Zanu-PF party’s national chairperson Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri was re-appointed as the defence minister.

However, Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) lawmaker Fadzayi Mahere accused the president of promoting nepotism at the expense of promoting development in the county.

Mahere raised concerns about the issues of corruption, nepotism, and incompetence in government.

Other opposition leaders joined citizens in social media discussions to express disappointment with the president’s appointments.

Opposition leader for the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Nelson Chamisa (C) leaves after casting his ballot at a polling station during the presidential and legislative elections in Harare, on August 23, 2023. – Zimbabweans on August 23, 2023 began voting in closely-watched presidential and legislative elections. (Photo by JOHN WESSELS / AFP)

The office of the president has not released an official statement concerning nepotism allegations in government.

On the other hand, supporters of President Mnangagwa defended him, arguing that his son has the requisite experience and qualifications to serve as deputy minister.

The nepotism allegations emerged after Mnangagwa’s election was sharply disputed by the opposition who maintained that the election was fraudulent and lacked legitimacy.

Some election observers had also revealed the presidential election did not meet the set standards internationally.

David Mnangagwa entered parliament through the youth quota system on the Zanu PF party list. He holds a bachelor of law degree from the University of Zimbabwe.

Tongai Mnangagwa is the Zanu PF Member of Parliament for Hunyani constituency. He is the son of the late David Mnangagwa, who was President Mnangagwa’s younger brother.