Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa nearly quit the government when he was “demoted” from Minister of State for National Security to Minister of Justice in March 1988 as he had been eyeing to become either Minister of Defence or Home Affairs, a United States embassy cable says.
Mnangagwa had been Minister of National Security from Independence but was shifted to Justice when President Robert Mugabe reshuffled his cabinet to reflect the new government set up following the unity with Joshua Nkomo’s Zimbabwe African People’s Union.
The cable says the Zezuru element in ZANU-PF thwarted Mnangagwa’s appointment to Defence opting for Enos Nkala instead. Home Affairs was given to Moven Mahachi.
Mnangagwa is said to have thought of going into business but decided to stay on.
He became Minister of Defence 20 years later but reverted to Justice in 2013 before being promoted to Vice-President the following year. He became President in 2017 following a military intervention.
The cable, which is a who is who of Mugabe’s cabinet, gives an insight into how the United States looked at Mugabe’s cabinet. Everything was looked at from a tribal angle.
Here is the Full cable:
Viewing cable 88HARARE1365, THE NEW GOZ: BIO INFORMATION
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Reference ID 88HARARE1365
Created Released Classification Origin
1988-03-14 09:20 2011-08-30 01:44 CONFIDENTIAL Embassy Harare
R 140920Z MAR 88
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7441
INFO DIA WASHDC
USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ5//ECJ2//
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 17 HARARE 01365
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PINS PINR KPRP PGOV
SUBJECT: THE NEW GOZ: BIO INFORMATION
REF: A) HARARE 17 B) HARARE 394 C) 87 HARARE 6985 D) HARARE 240
¶1. (U) SUMMARY. PRESIDENT MUGABE ANNOUNCED ON JANUARY
2, 1988 THE COMPOSITION OF HIS NEW CABINET (REF A).
THIS NEW GOVERNMENT CONSISTS OF THREE SENIOR MINISTERS, 21 CABINET MINISTERS, 3 CABINET-RANK MINISTERS OF STATE, 15 DEPUTY MINISTERS, 5 MINISTERS OF STATE WHO WORK AS “PARTY APPOINTEES”, AND 3 DEPUTY MINISTERS OF STATE WHO ASSIST THE “PARTY APPOINTEES”.
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¶2. (U) AMONG THESE VARIED GROUPS, THERE ARE 14 ZERURU, 12 KARANGA, 11 MANYIKA, 8 NDEBELE, 3 WHITES, 2 COLOUREDS, AND AN ASIAN (REF B). SIX OF THESE 51 APPOINTEES ARE WOMEN. WHILE SOME MINISTERS FROM THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT HAVE RETAINED THEIR PORTFOLIOS, OTHER VETERAN MINISTERS HAVE BEEN MOVED TO NEW ASSIGNMENTS. SEVERAL PROMINENT PERSONALITIES HAVE ALSO BEEN REMOVED FROM THE CABINET AND THERE ARE, OF COURSE, SOME NEW FACES. PROVIDED BELOW ARE BIO SKETCHES FOR ALL THE MEMBERS OF THIS NEW GOVERNMENT. OTHER APPOINTMENTS, SUCH AS PERMANENT SECRETARIES AND AMBASSADORS, ARE STILL TO BE ANNOUNCED. THE BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS REPORT IS THE BEST OVERALL DATA WHICH HAVE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ASSEMBLE SINCE THE FORMATION OF THE NEW GOZ. WE WELCOME COMMENTS AND ADDITIONS AS WELL AS QUERIES FOR MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THIS GOVERNMENT. END SUMMARY.
THE VICE PRESIDENT
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¶3. (U) SIMON VENGESAI MUZENDA: IS A VETERAN NATIONALIST AND LONG-TIME MUGABE CONFIDANT AND LOYALIST. IN THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT HE SERVED AS THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, A POSITION HE HAS HELD CONTINUOUSLY SINCE INDEPENDENCE. MUZENDA IS ZANU’S SECOND SECRETARY AND MEMBER OF THE POLITBURO. IN ADDITION TO BEING NAMED DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER IN 1980, MUZENDA ALSO SERVED UNTIL JANUARY 1981 AS MUGABE’S FIRST FOREIGN MINISTER.
MUZENDA WAS BORN IN 1922. HE IS MARRIED AND HAD EIGHT CHILDREN, ONE OF WHOM WAS KILLED DURING THE WAR.
¶4. (C) MUZENDA IS FROM THE KARANGA TRIBE AND IS THE LEADER OF ONE OF THE POLITICAL FACTIONS WHICH NOW DIVIDES THAT GROUP. IT IS SAID THAT MUZENDA MAY ACTUALLY BE A MEMBER OF THE TINY VENDA TRIBE, A NON-SHONA GROUP FROM SOUTHERN ZIMBABWE WHICH WAS ESSENTIALLY INCORPORATED INTO THE KARANGA. UNLIKE OTHER KARANGAS, MUZENDA AND HIS FACTION (AS MUGABE LOYALISTS) ARE NOT CHALLENGING THE ZEZURU POLITICAL ASCENDENCY. IT IS SAID THAT THERE IS BAD BLOOD BETWEEN MUZENDA AND JOSHUA NKOMO, AND BETWEEN MUZENDA AND FELLOW KARANGA EDDISON ZVOBGO. THE ANIMOSITY BETWEEN MUZENDA AND NKOMO WAS REPORTEDLY EXACERBATED BY THE FACT THAT BOTH MUZENDA AND NKOMO EXPECTED TO BE NAMED VICE PRESIDENT.
MUGABE, IT IS RUMORED, MADE MATTERS WORSE BY DELAYING HIS DECISION ON WHICH MAN TO TAP FOR THE VICE PRESIDENCY UNTIL THE LAST MOMENT. DESPITE HIS BEING VICE PRESIDENT, MUZENDA IS NOT GENERALLY CONSIDERED TO BE THE LIKELY PERMANENT SUCCESSOR TO MUGABE SHOULD THE LATTER LEAVE OR BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE, THOUGH HE WOULD LIKELY BE THE INTERIM LEADER DUE TO HIS NUMBER TWO POSITIONS IN BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND PARTY.
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SENIOR MINISTERS
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¶5. (U) MAURICE NYAGUMBO: REMAINS IN CHARGE OF POLITICAL AFFAIRS IN THE PRESIDENT’S OFFICE. HE SERVED IN THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT AS THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS AND CO-ORDINATION OF COOPERATIVES, ATTACHED TO THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE. NYAGUMBO IS ONE OF THE TOP FIVE ZANU PARTY OFFICIALS, IS IN THE POLITBURO, AND SERVES AS THE PARTY’S SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATION. SINCE INDEPENDENCE, NYAGUMBO SERVED AS THE MINISTER OF MINES AND ENERGY RESOURCES UNTIL JANUARY 1984 WHEN HE BECAME A MINISTER OF STATE. NYAGUMBO WAS BORN IN 1924. HE IS MARRIED AND HAS SIX CHILDREN.
NYAGUMBO TRAVELED TO THE US IN 1987 ON A USIA IV GRANT.
¶6. (C) NYAGUMBO IS ANOTHER LONG-TIME MUGABE ASSOCIATE AND WAS HELD IN DETENTION WITH MUGABE UNTIL HIS RELEASE IN 1975. WHILE IN PRISON, NYAGUMBO SUPPORTED MUGABE’S BID TO TAKE OVER THE LEADERSHIP OF ZANU FROM NDABANINGI SITHOLE. NYAGUMBO IS A MANYIKA–THE LEADER OF A MANYIKA FACTION WHICH IS LOYAL TO MUGABE–AND OPPOSES THE MANYIKA FACTION LED BY EDGAR TEKERE. LIKE THE KARANGA, THE MANYIKA ARE DIVIDED BY VARIOUS INTERNAL FACTIONS AND LACK A SINGLE COMMANDING LEADER. UNLIKE THE KARANGA, THE MANYIKA HAVE HISTORICALLY ALLIED THEMSELVES WITH THE ZEZURU. NYAGUMBO IS NOW WELL POSITIONED TO BE A STRONG CONTENDER FOR EVENTUALLY SUCCEEDING MUGABE AS PRESIDENT, BUT HE HAS NOT IMPRESSED MANY PEOPLE WITH HIS ADMINISTRATION OR LEADERSHIP QUALITIES.
¶7. (U) BERNARD CHIDZERO IS NOW THE SENIOR MINISTER OF FINANCE, ECONOMIC PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT. HE HAS SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE ECONOMIC MINISTRIES OF INDUSTRY, TRADE AND COMMERCE, LAND AND AGRICULTURE, AND MINES. HE ALSO SERVES AS HIS OWN FINANCE MINISTER, THE POSITION HE HELD IN THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT.
CHIDZERO RECIEVED HIS HIGHER EDUCATION IN CANADA, EARNING AN M.A. AT OTTAWA UNIVERSITY IN 1955, AND A PH.D. AT MCGILL UNIVERSITY (MONTREAL) IN 1958. HE DID POST-GRADUATE STUDIES IN OXFORD. BEFORE ENTERING GOVERNMENT IN 1980 AS MINISTER OF ECONOMIC PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, CHIDZERO HELD SEVERAL POSITIONS IN THE U.N. ORGANIZATIONS, THE LAST BEING AS DIRECTOR OF THE COMMODITIES DIVISION OF UNCTAD. CHIDZERO WAS BORN IN
¶1927. HE CONVERTED TO ROMAN CATHOLICISM AS A YOUNG MAN. HE IS MARRIED TO A CANADIAN AND HAS FOUR CHILDREN.
¶8. (C) CHIDZERO, THE SON OF A ZEZURU MOTHER AND A MALAWIAN FATHER, WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THE HARARE AREA.HE WAS OVERSEAS DURING MOST OF THE NATIONALIST STRUGGLE AND THUS LACKS THE POLITICAL BASE AND LIBERATION CREDENTIALS TO BE ANYTHING MORE THAN A WELL RESPECTED TECHNOCRAT. HE IS WIDELY RESPECTED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR HERE AND IN THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL COMMUNITY. HE CLEARLY FAVORS MOST OF THE ECONOMIC REFORMS AND GROWTH STRATEGIES WHICH THE WORLD BANK RECOMMENDS FOR ZIMBABWE. HE ALSO FAVORS THE EXECUTION OF AN OPIC AGREEMENT. DISAPPOINTINGLY, HE WILL NOT FORCEFULLY ARGUE FOR SUCH ECONOMIC CHANGES IN CABINET IF HE SENSES THAT PRESIDENT MUGABE HAS ANY RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE CHANGE.
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¶9. (U) JOSHUA NKOMO, A VETERAN NATIONALIST AND PRESIDENT OF ZAPU, IS NOW BACK IN GOVERNMENT AS THE SENIOR MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND RURAL AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, WITH ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR COMMUNITY AND CO-OPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT, WOMEN’S AFFAIRS, AND NATIONAL HOUSING. NKOMO, WHO TURNED DOWN MUGABE’S OFFER TO MAKE HIM THE PRESIDENT OF ZIMBABWE AFTER INDEPENDENCE, FIRST SERVED IN THE GOVERNMENT AS THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS FROM MARCH 1980 TO JANUARY 1981, WHEN HE WAS SHIFTED TO MINISTRY OF PUBLIC SERVICE. IN THE LATTER POSITION, NKOMO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR RESTRUCTURING THE WHITE-DOMINATED CIVIL SERVICE.
NKOMO’S REASSIGNMENT WAS SEEN BY SOME AS A DEMOTION AND AN ATTEMPT BY THE RULING ZANU CLIQUE TO EXCLUDE ZAPU MEMBERS FROM MINISTRIES DEALING WITH NATIONAL SECURITY MATTERS. NKOMO WAS MADE MINISTER WITHOUT PORFOLIO, AND WAS FINALLY DISMISSED FROM THE CABINET ALONG WITH OTHER ZAPU MINISTERS IN FEBRUARY 1982. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, NKOMO WENT INTO EXILE IN THE UK BUT RETURNED TO ZIMBABWE AFTER A FEW MONTHS. SINCE THEN, NKOMO WORKED EXCLUSIVELY ON ZAPU BUSINESS AND ENTERED A SERIES OF DIFFICULT NEGOTIATIONS WITH MUGAGE FOR THE UNIFICATION OF ZANU AND ZAPU. THESE NEGOTIATIONS CONCLUDED AT THE END OF 1987, AND THE “UNITY AGREEMENT” WAS SIGNED ON DECEMBER 22 (REF C). NKOMO WAS BORN IN 1917. HE BEGAN HIS POLITICAL CAREER AS A TRADE UNIONIST WITH THE RAILWAY WORKERS. HE IS MARRIED AND HAS THREE GROWN CHILDREN.
¶10. (C) THERE HAD BEEN RUMORS THAT NKOMO EXPECTED TO BE APPOINTED TO THE VICE PRESIDENCY WHEN MUGABE WAS INAUGURATED AS THE NEW EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT ON DECEMBER 30, 1987. MUGABE, HOWEVER, APPOINTED FORMER DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND ZANU SECOND SECRETARY SIMON MUZENDA AS THE NEW VICE PRESIDENT, MUCH TO NKOMO’S CHAGRIN. IT IS EXPECTED, HOWEVER, THAT NKOMO AND MUZENDA WILL HAVE EQUIVALENT POSITIONS, SUBORDINATE TOMUGABE, IN THE HIERARCHY OF THE UNIFIED ZANU/ZAPU PARTY ALTHOUGH SOME OBSERVERS BELIEVE THAT NKOMO WILL EVENTUALLY EMERGE THE STRONGER. AS THE SENIOR MINISTER IN CHARGE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, NKOMO SHOULD BE IN A POSITION TO CHANNEL MUCH NEEDED GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT AND ASSISTANCE INTO MATABELELAND (NKOMO’S HOME TURF) WHICH HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY NEGLECTED IN TERMS OF DEVELOPMENTAL ASSISTANCE AND BLIGHTED BY DROUGHT AND BANDITRY. NKOMO’S PRIORITIES ARE TO END UNEMPLOYMENT AND VIOLENCE IN MATABELELAND, AND HE RECENTLY ADJURED THE BANDITS/DISSIDENTS THERE TO LAY DOWN THEIR WEAPONS. NKOMO HAS ALSO PUT HIS PERSONAL PRESTIGE BEHIND THE UNITY OF ZAPU AND ZANU AND IT APPEARS THAT HE CONTINUES TO BE POPULAR AMONG THE NDEBELE. NKOMO, HIMSELF, IS FROM THE KALANGA TRIBE WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY MADE UP OF SHONA-SPEAKING PERSONS ABSORBED BY THE NDEBELE AT THE TIME OF THE LATTER’S OCCUPATION OF SOUTHWESTERN ZIMBABWE IN THE LAST CENTURY. THE KALANGA ARE NOW IDENTIFIED WITH THE NDEBELE. NKOMO IS ONE OF SEVERAL PROMINENT ZAPU LEADERS WHO, THOUGH ASSUMED TO BE NDEBELE, IS ACTUALLY PART OF THE KALANGA SUBGROUP. THERE IS NOT, HOWEVER, THE SAME AMOUNT OF TRIBAL RIVALRY BETWEEN THE KALANGA AND THE NDEBELE AS THERE IS AMONG THE VARIOUS SHONA-SPEAKING SUBGROUPS.
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CABINET MINISTERS
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¶11. (U) MUGABE NAMED 21 CABINET MINISTERS (UP FROM 18 MINISTERS IN THE PREVIOUS CABINET). THESE MINISTERS ARE:
¶12. (U) MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: NATHAN SHAMUYARIRA — SHAMUYARIRA IS NEW TO THE FOREIGN MINISTRY AND TAKES OVER THIS PORTFOLIO FROM WITNESS MANGWENDE. A JOURNALIST BY TRAINING, HE SERVED AS THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION SINCE 1980. SHAMUYARIRA IS A MEMBER OF THE ZANU POLITBURO AND IS THE PARTY’S SECRETARY FOR PUBLICITY AND INFORMATION. HE JOINED ZAPU IN 1962, BUT LEFT IN 1963 TO HELP FOUND ZANU. IN 1964, SHAMUYARIRA LEFT TO STUDY POLITICAL SCIENCE AT PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, AND RECEIVED A BA IN 1967. HE SUBSEQUENTLY TOOK A POSITION AS A LECTURER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM. SHAMUYARIRA WAS APPOINTED ZANU’S SECRETARY FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS IN 1968. HE LEFT ZANU IN 1971 TO HELP FOUND FROLIZI, BUT LEFT FROLIZI TO RETURN TO THE UNIVERSITY OF DAR IN 1973. HE REJOINED ZANU IN 1977 AND WENT TO MOZAMBIQUE AS THE DIRECTOR OF ZANU’S EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. HE LATER SERVED AS THE PARTY’S ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY. SHAMUYARIRA IS THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK “CRISIS IN RHODESIA” (ANDRE DEUTSCH, 1965). HEIS MARRIED AND HAS A DAUGHTER.
¶13. (C) SHAMUYARIRA IS A ZEZURU BUT HAS NO PERSONAL POLITICAL CONSTITUENCY. HE IS ESSENTIALLY A TECHNOCRAT RATHER THAN A POLITICIAN, AND IS DEPENDENT ON MUGABE’S FAVOR FOR HIS POSITION. AS THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION, SHAMUYARIRA DISPLAYED A TENDENCY TOWARD DOCTRINAIRE SOCIALISM AND HAS BEEN CRITICAL OF THE UNITED STATES.
HOWEVER, MANY OBSERVERS DESCRIBE HIM AS MORE OF AN OPPORTUNIST THAN A COMMITTED IDEOLOGUE. IN THE TWO MONTHS THAT SHAMUYARIRA HAS BEEN FOREIGN MINISTER, HE HAS BEEN REASONABLE AND ACCESSIBLE AND CERTAINLY HAS BEEN AN IMPROVEMENT OVER HIS PREDECESSOR, WITNESS MANGWENDE. A SOURCE TELLS US THAT SHAMUYARIRA, ALONG WITH ANOTHER ZEZURU MINISTER, SIDNEY SEKERAMAYI, WERE THE DRIVING FORCES BEHIND BLOCKING THE APPOINTMENT OF EMMERSON MNANGAGWA, A KARANGA, TO THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE. SHAMUYARIRA IS REPORTEDLY ONE OF THE LEADERS IN THE “GROUP OF 26” WHICH SEEKS TO MAINTAIN AND STRENGTHEN THE ZEZURU ASCENDENCY ON THE GOZ. SHAMUYARIRA ALSO REPORTEDLY RESISTED THE ZAPU/ZANU UNITY ACCORD. HE IS ALSO WIDELY BELIEVED TO BE VERY CLOSE TO THE SOVIETS, THOUGH FOR OPPORTUNISTIC AND PRAGMATIC, RATHER THAN IDEOLOGICAL REASONS.
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¶14. (U) MINISTER OF INFORMATION, POSTS, AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS (IPT) WITNESS MANGWENDE: — MANGWENDE PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SINCE 1981. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING INDEPENDENCE IN 1980, MANGWENDE SERVED AS DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER. MANGWENDE STUDIED AT THE LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS DURING THE YEARS OF THE NATIONALIST STRUGGLE, AND SERVED AS THE PRESIDENT OFZANU’S ZIMBABWE STUDENTS’ UNION. IN 1979 HE WAS APPOINTED CHIEF ZANU REPRESENTATIVE TO MOZAMBIQUE. MANGWENDE WAS BORN IN 1946, IS MARRIED, AND HAS NO CHILDREN.
¶15. (C) WHILE MANGWENDE DOES NOT HAVE A PERSONAL POLITICAL CONSTITUENCY, HE REMAINS IN THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE OF HIS MEMBERSHIP IN A PROMINENT ZEZURU CLAN. MANGWENDE THEREFORE CAN BE EXPECTED TO SUPPORT THE POLITICAL STATUS QUO WHICH FAVORS THE ZEZURU ASCENDENCY. HE WAS NOT FAVORABLY REVIEWED AS A FOREIGN MINISTER BY THE LOCAL DIPLOMATIC COMMUNITY. MANGWENDE WAS DIFFICULT TO REACH, DIFFICULT TO WORK WITH, AND HAS A DRINKING PROBLEM. HIS LACK OF DIPLOMATIC SKILLS AND COMPLETE ESPOUSAL OF THIRD WORLD, ANTI-US RHETORIC, GREATLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE DETERIORATION OF US-ZIMBABWE RELATIONS IN THE 1983-86 PERIOD. SINCE BECOMING INFORMATION MINISTER, MANGWENDE HAS BEEN FEATURED PROMINENTLY ON RADIO AND TELEVISION, HAS CRITICIZED THE IMPORTING OF FOREIGN TELEVISION PROGRAMS, AND HAS CALLED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL TELEVISION PRODUCTION INDUSTRY.
¶16. (U) MINISTER OF DEFENSE: ENOS NKALA — NKALA IS NEW TO THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE, TAKING OVER THIS PORTFOLIO FROM MUGABE WHO, SINCE INDEPENDENCE, HAD SERVED AS HIS OWN DEFENSE MINISTER. NKALA JOINED THE GOVERNMENT AS THE MINISTER OF FINANCE IN 1980, AND THEN BECAME THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS IN JULY 1985. HE IS A MEMBER OF THE ZANU POLITBURO, AND IS THE PARTY SECRETARY FOR FINANCE. NKALA BEGAN HIS CAREER AS A JOURNALIST, AND FIRST BECAME INVOLVED IN NATIONALIST ORGANIZATIONS IN THE LATE 1950’S. HE WAS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF ZANU, AND WAS DETAINED WITH MUGABE AND OTHER ZANU LEADERS FROM 1964 TO 1974. NKALA WAS BORN IN ¶1932. HE WAS A WIDOWER; HE REMARRIED IN 1987. HE HAS THREE CHILDREN FROM HIS FIRST MARRIAGE. NKALA TRAVELED TO THE US IN 1987 ON A USIS IV GRANT.
¶17. (C) THOUGH AN NDEBELE, NKALA IS PERSONALLY VERY LOYAL TO MUGABE AND SUPPORTS THE POLITICAL STATUS QUO (PERHAPS BECAUSE HE HAS NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN WINNING POLITICAL SUPPORT AMONG HIS OWN TRIBE). NKALA HAS LIVED IN HARARE FOR MANY YEARS AND HIS HOME WAS A MEETING PLACE FOR THE FOUNDERS OF ZANU. WHILE NKALA WAS DETAINED ALONG WITH OTHER ZANU LEADERS, HE SUPPORTED MUGABE’S BID TO REPLACE SITHOLE AS ZANU PRESIDENT. MUGABE IS SAID TO HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF CONFIDENCE IN NKALA. AS THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS, NKALA WAS CONSIDERED TO BE THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE PERSECUTION OF ZAPU IN THE LAST YEAR. IT IS ALSO REPORTED THAT NKALA WAS NAMED TO THE DEFENSE MINISTRY AFTER THE ZEZURU CLIQUE OBJECTED TO MUGABE’S PLAN TO NAME EMMERSON MNANGAGWA, A KARANGA, TO THAT POST. SOURCES INDICATE THAT NKALA’S MISSION IS TO ASSERT CIVILIAN CONTROL OVER THE ARMY AND AIR FORCE COMMANDS AND CRACK DOWN ON CORRUPTION WITHIN THE ARMED FORCES.
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¶18. (U) MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS: MOVEN MAHACHI — MAHACHI, WHO PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS THE MINISTER OF LANDS, AGRICULTURE, AND RURAL RESETTLEMENT, HAS TAKEN OVER THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS FROM ENOS NKALA. THOUGH HE IS ONE OF THE YOUNGEST MEMBERS OF THE CABINET (BORN 1948), MAHACHI HAS BEEN IN THE GOVERNMENT SINCE INDEPENDENCE. HE FIRST SERVED AS DEPUTY MINISTER FOR LANDS, RESETTLEMENT, AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT, BECOMING THE MINISTER IN FEBRUARY 1982. THE AGRICULTURE PORTFOLIO WAS LATER ADDED TO HIS MINISTRY IN JULY 1985.
DURING THE NATIONALIST STRUGGLE, MAHACHI SERVED AS AN UNDERGROUND OPERATIVE IN SUPPORT OF ZANU. HE WAS ARRESTED IN 1975 AND DETAINED UNTIL 1979. MAHACHI IS MARRIED AND HAS FOUR CHILDREN. HE JOINED THE ANGLICAN CHURCH AS A YOUNG MAN.
¶19. (C) MAHACHI IS A MANYIKA, BUT HE HAS NO INDEPENDENT POLITICAL BASE. HIS POSITION IN GOVERNMENT IS DUE TO HIS CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH MUGABE. DURING THE NATIONALIST STRUGGLE, MAHACHI WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN SECRETLY CONVEYING MUGABE TO MOZAMBIQUE IN 1975 TO AVOID ANOTHER ARREST. ONCE INSIDE MOZAMBIQUE, MUGABE CONSOLIDATED HIS CONTROL OVER ZANU/ZANLA AND BECAME THE PREEMINENT NATIONALIST LEADER. MAHACHI SHOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE EASY ACCESS TO MUGABE AS HE MANAGES THE DIFFICULT HOME AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO. AS A MUGABE LOYALIST, MAHACHI CAN BE EXPECTED TO SUPPORT THE ZEZURU POLITICAL ASCENDENCY. A SOURCE TELLS US THAT MAHACHI WAS ALONE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RECENT RELEASE OF TWO WHITE CUSTOMS OFFICIALS WHO HAVE BEEN DETAINED FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS ON SUSPICION OF SPYING FOR SOUTH AFRICA. IT IS RUMORED THAT MAHACHI WAS REPRIMANDED FOR THIS ACTION. THERE ARE ALSO REPORTS THAT MAHACHI IS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE AND THAT THE COMMISSIONER DOES NOT ALWAYS CARRY OUT MAHACHI’S ORDERS. SOME OBSERVERS HAVE SUGGESTED THAT MAHACHI MAY BE “TOO SOFT” FOR HIS CURRENT ASSIGNMENT.
¶20. (U) MINISTER OF LANDS, AGRICULTURE, AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT: DAVID KARIMANZIRA— TOOK OVER THIS PORTFOLIO FROM MOVEN MAHACHI. HE IS ANOTHER YOUNG MINISTER (BORN 1947) BUT, UNLIKE MAHACHI, WAS ONLY APPOINTED TO THE CABINET IN 1985 AFTER HIS FIRST ELECTION TO PARLIAMENT AS THE MINISTER OF SPORT, YOUTH AND CULTURE. KARIMANZIRA HAS, HOWEVER, SERVED IN VARIOUS NATIONAL AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT POSITIONS SINCE INDEPENDENCE. IN 1980 HE WAS APPOINTED AS THE UNDERSECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION IN MUGABE’S FIRST GOVERNMENT AND LATER BECAME DEPUTY MINISTER. HE HAS ALSO SERVED AS A PROVINCIAL OFFICER FOR ZANU. HE IS A MEMBER OF THE ZANU CENTRAL COMMITTEE AND IS THE PARTY’S DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY. KARIMANZIRA RECEIVED HIS UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION IN RHODESIA, AND ALSO STUDIED IN THE UK IN THE LATTER HALF OF THE 1970’S. DURING THAT TIME HE WAS ACTIVE IN ZANU’S ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UK. HE IS MARRIED (HIS WIFE WORKS IN THE METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE) AND THEY HAVE TWO CHILDREN.
¶21. (C) KARIMANZIRA IS A ZEZURU AND IS CONSIDERED MORE OF AN APPARATCHIK THAN A POLITICIAN WITH AN INDEPENDENT BASE. AS A ZEZURU HE CAN BE EXPECTED TO UPHOLD THE POLITICAL STATUS QUO. KARIMANZIRA HAS THE REPUTATION FOR BEING CRITICAL OF THE US AND HE HAS THE DUBIOUS DISTINCTION OF MAKING THE SPEECH AT EMBASSY HARARE’S FOURTH OF JULY (1986) RECEPTION THAT PROMPTED FORMER PRESIDENT CARTER TO WALK OUT. KARIMANZIRA DID NOT, HOWEVER, WRITE THE OFFENDING SPEECH AND WAS SPEAKING AT THE TIME ON BEHALF OF THE FOREIGN MINISTER.
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¶22. (U) MINISTER OF YOUTH, SPORT, AND CULTURE: DAVID KWIDINI— HAS TAKEN OVER THIS MINISTRY FROM DAVID KARIMANZIRA. KWIDINI IS AN NDEBELE WHO, AS A ZAPU MP AND MEMBER OF THE ZAPU CENTRAL COMMITTEE, CROSSED OVER TO JOIN ZANU IN MAY 1986. THIS IS KWIDINI’S FIRST APPOINTMENT TO GOVERNMENT. KWIDINI IS AN EDUCATOR BY PROFESSION AND IS NOW ALSO SERVING AS THE INTERIM SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE ALL AFRICA PARLIAMENTARY COUNCIL ON POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT.
¶23. (U) MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS: EMMERSON MNANGAGWA (ALSO SPELLED MUNANGAGWA) — TOOK OVER THIS PORTFOLIO FROM EDDISON ZVOBGO, WHO IS NOW ONE OF THE MINISTERS OF STATE FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS ATTACHED TO ZANU HEADQUARTERS. MNANGAGWA IS A VETERAN ZANLA GUERILLA LEADER WHO, SINCE INDEPENDENCE, HAS SERVED AS THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR NATIONAL SECURITY. MNANGAGWA JOINED ZANU IN 1963, AND WAS AMONG THE FIRST GROUP OF FIVE ZANU GUERILLAS TO TRAVEL TO THE PRC FOR TRAINING. HE WAS ARRESTED BY THE RHODESIAN SECURITY FORCES IN 1965 AND WAS IMPRISONED UNTIL 1974. ONCE RELEASED, HE WENT TO ZAMBIA AND OBTAINED A LAW DEGREE. HE WAS ADMITTED TO THE ZAMBIAN BAR IN 1976. MNANGAGWA IS THE ZANU POLITBURO SECRETARY FOR NATIONAL SECURITY. HE IS MARRIED AND HAS FOUR CHILDREN.
¶24. (C) MNANGAGWA HAS BEEN A LONG-TIME ADVISOR TO MUGABE ON SECURITY MATTERS, AND SOURCES REPORT THAT HE EXPECTED TO BE NAMED MINISTER OF DEFENSE OR HOME AFFAIRS IN THE NEW CABINET. ACCORDING TO OUR SOURCES, A ZEZURU CLIQUE (LED BY NATHAN SHAMUYARIRA AND SIDNEY SEKERAMAYI) IN THE GOZ PERSUADED MUGABE NOT TO APPOINT MNANGAGWA, A KARANGA, TO A SECURITY MINISTRY. WE UNDERSTAND THAT MNANGAGWA WAS DISAPPOINTED WITH HIS NEW ASSIGNMENT AS JUSTICE MINISTER, ESPECIALLY SINCE JUSTICE’S MOST IMPORTANT TASK IN RECENT YEARS (I.E. DRAFTING THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS FOR ENDING RACIAL REPRESENTATION IN PARLIAMENT AND ESTABLISHING AN EXECUTIVE PRESIDENCY) HAS BEEN COMPLETED. WE HEARD THAT MNANGAGWA WAS EVEN CONSIDERING AT ONE POINT RETIRING FROM GOVERNMENT AND GOING INTO PRIVATE BUSINESS, BUT HE IS NOW SAID TO HAVE ACCEPTED HIS NEW POSITION. IT IS STILL NOT CLEAR, HOWEVER, IF MNANGAGWA WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE AS ZANU’S SECRETARY FOR NATIONAL SECURITY.
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¶25. (U) MINISTER OF STATE FOR NATIONAL SECURITY: SYDNEY SEKERAMAYI — HAS TAKEN OVER MNANGAGWA’S FORMER POSITION AND OPERATES OUT OF THE PRESIDENT’S OFFICE. SEKERAMAYI IS A PHYSICIAN BY TRAINING (HAVING BEEN ONE OF THE FIRST STUDENTS TO BE SPONSORED BY ZANU FOR OVERSEAS STUDIES IN THE 1960’S; HE STUDIED IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA AND SWEDEN WHERE HE OBTAINED HIS M.D.). HE BRIEFLY WORKED IN SWEDEN BEFORE MOVING TO SET UP HIS MEDICAL PRACTICE IN ZAMBIA, WHERE HE REMAINED UNTIL 1976 WHEN HE WENT TO UK FOR SPECIALIZED SURGICAL TRAINING. HE WAS RECALLED BY ZANU TO SERVE WITH ZANLA IN MOZAMBIQUE. HE JOINED THE ZANU CENTRAL COMMITTEE IN 1977. HE IS NOW A MEMBER OF THE POLITBURO AND SERVES AS THE PARTY’S SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT. IN 1980 SEKERAMAYI BECAME THE MINISTER OF LANDS, RESETTLEMENT, AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT. HE BECAME THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR DEFENSE IN FEBRUARY 1982 AND WAS THE ACTING MINISTER OF HEALTH. HE WAS FORMALLY APPOINTED AS MINISTER OF HEALTH IN JANUARY 1984 AND HELD THAT PORTFOLIO UNTIL THE FORMATION OF THIS NEW CABINET. SEKERAMAYI WAS BORN IN 1944 AND IS MARRIED.
¶26. (C) SEKERAMAYI IS A ZEZURU, WHICH SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN THE MAIN REASON IN COMBINATION WITH HIS PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE AS THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR DEFENSE, FOR REPLACING MNANGAGWA AS THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR NATIONAL SECURITY. WE HAVE HEARD THAT SEKERAMAYI WAS, ALONG WITH NEW FOMIN SHAMUYARIRA, ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THE ZEZURU CLIQUE WHICH BLOCKED MNANGAGWA’S APPOINTMENT AS MINISTER OF DEFENSE. SEKERAMAYI CAN BE EXPECTED THEREFORE TO SUPPORT THE ZEZURU NOMINATION OF THE GOZ TO THE EXCLUSION OF THE KARANGA. HE IS AN IMPRESSIVE INDIVIDUAL IN CONVERSATION AND APPEARS BOTH BRIGHTER AND MORE ARTICULATE THAN MOST OF HIS COLLEAGUES. HE MUST BE CONSIDERED AS A POSSIBLE FUTURE PRESIDENT.
¶27. (U) MINISTER OF HEALTH: BRIGADIER FELIX MUCHEMWA — HAS TAKEN OVER FROM SYDNEY SEKERAMAYI AS THE NEW MINISTER OF HEALTH. MUCHEMWA IS THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE ARMY’S MEDICAL SERVICES, AND SERVED AS THE COMMANDER OF THE PRESIDENTIAL GUARD UNTIL OCTOBER 1987 WHEN HE WAS ELECTED AS A NON-CONSTITUENT MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT. MUCHEMWA WAS FORMERLY A ZANLA GUERILLA.
¶28. (C) MUCHEMWA IS A MANYIKA AND AS SUCH CAN BE EXPECTED TO SUPPORT THE POLITICAL STATUS QUO. SOURCES HAVE TOLD US THAT MUCHEMWA WAS, IN EFFECT, “KICKED UPSTAIRS” BY MUGABE WHEN MUGABE INCLUDED MUCHEMWA ON THE ZANU LIST FOR ELECTION TO A NON-CONSTITUENT SEAT IN THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY. AS A RESULT OF THIS ELECTION, MUCHEMWA, WHO ONLY BECAME A BRIGADIER IN NOVEMBER 1986, HAD TO RESIGN FROM THE ARMY. MUCHEMWA APPARENTLY DID NOT HAVE A GOOD REPUTATION AS A MILITARY OFFICER, AND IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT HE HAS A DRUG PROBLEM. AS THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF ARMY MEDICAL SERVICES, MUCHEMWA SHOULD HAVE PICKED UP CONSIDERABLE KNOWLEDGE ON DEALING WITH AIDS AND STD. SUCH EXPERIENCE SHOULD BE USEFUL FOR THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH WHICH IS INCREASINGLY PREOCCUPIED WITH AIDS IN ZIMBABWE. AS IS THE CASE WITH THE TWO OTHER MILITARY OFFICERS WHO HAVE BEEN RECENTLY APPOINTED TO THE GOZ, MUCHEMWA HOLDS A NON-CONSTITUENT SEAT IN PARLIAMENT AND DOES NOT HAVE A POLITICAL BASE OF HIS OWN. (SEE REF D FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE MILITARY OFFICERS IN THE CABINET.)
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¶29. (U) MINISTER OF TRANSPORT: SIMBARASHE MUMBENGEGWI — REPLACED HERBERT USHEWOKUNZE. MUMBENGEGWI PREVIOUSLY HELD A NUMBER OF OTHER CABINET POSITIONS AS THE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, THE MINISTER OF HOUSING, AND THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION AND NATIONAL HOUSING, WHICH PORTFOLIO HE HELD UNTIL THE FORMATION OF THIS CURRENT GOVERNMENT. MUMBENGEGWI ALSO SERVED AS DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER FROM INDEPENDENCE TO FEBRUARY 1982 AND HAS ACTED AS FOREIGN MINISTER ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. HE BECAME ACTIVE IN POLITICS AS A MEMBER OF ZAPU AND LATER ZANU YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS. HE ATTENDED UNIVERSITY IN AUSTRALIA AND RECEIVED A DEGREE IN EDUCATION. FROM 1973 TO 1978 HE WAS ZANU’S CHIEF REPRESENTATIVE IN AUSTRALIA. BETWEEN 1978 AND 1980 HE WAS THE CHIEF ZANU REP IN ZAMBIA. MUMBENGEGWI HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT SINCE 1980. MUMBENGEGWI WAS BORN IN 1945, IS MARRIED AND HAS ONE CHILD.
¶30. (C) MUMBENGEGWI IS SAID TO BE A LOYAL CIVIL SERVANT RATHER THAN A POLITICIAN WITH HIS OWN POLITICAL BASE. HE IS A KARANGA, SAID TO BE ALLIED WITH THE KARANGA FACTION LED BY VICE PRESIDENT MUZENDA. HE HAS A REPUTATION FOR DILIGENT HARD WORK AND HONESTY, SUGGESTING THAT HE WAS APPOINTED TO CLEAN UP THE MESS LEFT BY THE CORRUPT, OPPORTUNISTIC USHOWOKUNZE.
¶31. (U) MINISTER OF PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION AND NATIONAL HOUSING: JOSEPH MSIKA— HAS TAKEN OVER THIS MINISTRY FROM SIMBARASHE MUMBENGEGWI. MSIKA IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF ZAPU AND PREVIOUSLY SERVED IN THE GOVERNMENT AS THE MINISTER OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER DEVELOPMENT FROM APRIL 1980 TO FEBRUARY 1982 WHEN ZAPU MINISTERS WERE DEPOSED. BEFORE GOING INTO ZAPU POLITICS, MSIKA WAS TRAINED AS A CABINET MAKER AND LATER WAS A TRADE UNION OFFICIAL IN THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY. IN HIS NEW CABINET POSITION MSIKA WILL BE REPORTING TO SENIOR MINISTER NKOMO, WHO IS ALSO HIS PARTY LEADER. MSIKA WAS BORN IN 1923. MSIKA WAS PART OF THE ZAPU DELEGATION WHICH NEGOTIATED THE ZANU/ZAPU UNITY AGREEMENT.
¶32. (C) MSIKA IS A ZEZURU BUT WAS RAISED IN MATABELELAND AND IS A LONG-TIME ZAPU MEMBER AND OFFICIAL. HE CAN BE EXPECTED TO SIDE WITH JOSHUA NKOMO AND THE NDEBELES SHOULD THEY CHALLENGE THE SHONA DOMINANCE OF THE NATIONAL POLITICAL MACHINERY. MSIKA JOINED ZAPU AT A TIME WHEN THAT ORGANIZATION HAD MANY ZEZURU MEMBERS AND WAS NOT CONSIDERED AN NDEBELE TRIBAL ENCLAVE. SUBSEQUENT DIVISIONS IN ZAPU IN THE EARLY 1960’S CAUSED MANY SHONA TO SHIFT ALLEGIANCE TO ZANU. MSIKA REMAINED LOYAL TO ZAPU.
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¶33. (U) MINISTER OF LABOUR, MANPOWER PLANNING, AND SOCIAL WELFARE: JOHN NKOMO— ANOTHER HIGH RANKING ZAPU LEADER WHO HAS BEEN NAMED TO THE CABINET. NKOMO TAKES OVER AS MINISTER OF LABOUR FROM FREDRICK SHAVA. NKOMO (WHO IS NOT RELATED TO ZAPU PRESIDENT JOSHUA NKOMO) PREVIOUSLY SERVED IN GOVERNMENT AS DEPUTY MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY AND ENERGY DEVELOPMENT UNTIL APRIL 1982 WHEN HE WAS APPOINTED AS THE MINISTER OF STATE WITH SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER. IN THIS CAPACITY IT IS SAID THAT HE DEVELOPED AN OVERALL KNOWLEDGE OF THE OPERATIONS OF EACH MINISTRY. NKOMO WAS RELIEVED OF HIS GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES BY THE PRIME MINISTER IN NOVEMBER 1984 BECAUSE HE CONTINUED TO SIT ON THE ZAPU CENTRAL COMMITTEE. NKOMO IS THE ZAPU SECRETARY FOR PUBLICITY AND WAS A MEMBER OF THE ZAPU DELEGATION WHICH NEGOTIATED THE ZANU/ZAPU UNITY AGREEMENT. NKOMO TRAVELED TO THE UNITED STATES IN 1986 AS A USIA IV GRANTEE.
¶34. (C) EMBASSY HAS FOUND NKOMO TO BE A USEFUL AND THOUGHTFUL INTERLOCUTOR. HE SEEMS TO HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF ZIMBABWE’S PROBLEMS AND IS INCLINED TO ACT. AS THE NEW MINISTER OF LABOUR, NKOMO HAS PUBLICALLY STATED THAT THE COUNTRY’S LABOUR RELATIONS ACT (LRA) NEEDS ADJUSTMENT. IN PRIVATE, HOWEVER, HE TOLD US THAT THE LRA NEEDS TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY OVERHAULED. NKOMO IS A SHREWD POLITICIAN WHO SOMETIMES APPEARS TO BE PLAYING BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET AT ONCE. THERE ARE STORIES THAT HE SPOKE OUT IN ZAPU COUNCILS AGAINST UNITY WITH ZANU WHILE AT THE SAME TIME KEEPING IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH ZANU OFFICIALS. IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT NKOMO REMAINED IN HIS PREVIOUS GOZ POSITION UNTIL 1984 WHEN ALL OTHER ZANU OFFICIALS WERE SACKED FROM THE GOZ IN 1982.
¶35. (U) MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION: DZINGAI MUTUMBUKA — HAS BEEN THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION SINCE 1980, BUT WITH THE FORMATION OF THIS NEW CABINET, HE HAS LOST RESPONSIBILITY FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATION (WHICH HAVE BEEN GROUPED INTO A NEW MINISTRY UNDER THE DIRECTION OF FAY CHUNG) AND WILL NOW CONTINUE AS THE MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION. MUTUMBUKA IS A MEMBER OF THE ZANU POLITBURO, AND SERVES AS THE PARTY’S SECRETARY FOR PRODUCTION, CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT. MUTUMBUKA WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PERSONS TO JOIN ZANU IN THE 1970’S WHO HAD A HIGHER EDUCATION. HE OBTAINED A DOCTORATE DEGREE IN CHEMISTRY IN THE UK AND TAUGHT CHEMISTRY IN ZAMBIA UNTIL HE JOINED THE ARMED STRUGGLE IN 1974. HE HAS REPRESENTED ZANU AT A NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES. MUTUMBUKA TRAVELLED TO THE UNITED STATES IN 1982 AS A USIA IV GRANTEE.
¶36. (C) MUTUMBUKA IS A KARANGA WHO HAS BEEN LOYAL TO MUGABE AND THE ZEZURU CLIQUE. NONETHELESS, THERE HAS BEEN SPECULATION THAT AS A KARANGA HE WAS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST IN THE FORMATION OF THIS NEW CABINET WHEN MORE THAN HALF OF HIS PORTFOLIO WAS TAKEN FROM HIM. WE HAVE HEARD THAT MUTUMBUKA IS ANGERED THAT HIS PORTFOLIO HAS BEEN REDUCED TO HIGHER EDUCATION SINCE THERE IS ONLY ONE INSTITUTE OF HIGHER EDUCATION (THE UNIVERSITY IN ZIMBABWE) FOR HIM TO OVERSEE. THE ISSUE OF WHICH MINISTRY WILL BE IN CHARGE OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING HAS NOT YET BEEN SETTLED. THERE IS, HOWEVER, AN ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATION FOR THE REDUCTION OF MUTUMBUKA’S PORTFOLIO. SINCE 1980 MUTUMBUKA HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY OF MASS EDUCATION WHICH EACH YEAR TURNS OUT INCREASINGLY LARGE NUMBERS OF “SCHOOL LEAVERS” WHO EXPECT WHITE COLLAR EMPLOYMENT OR POSITIONS IN THE UNIVERSITY. BECAUSE THE UNIVERSITY CAN ONLY ADMIT A SMALL NUMBER OF THE SCHOOL LEAVERS EACH YEAR, AND JOB CREATION OUTSIDE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE HAS BEEN VIRTUALLY NIL, THE POOL OF ZIMBABWE’S UNEMPLOYED YOUNG PEOPLE IS GROWING RAPIDLY AND THE GOZ IS NOW VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE POLITICAL AND SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH AN UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM. IT MAY BE THEREFORE THAT MUGABE BLAMES MUTUMBUKA FOR THIS “SCHOOL LEAVERS” CRISIS AND HAS PUNISHED HIM BY TAKING AWAY RESPONSIBILITY FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION.
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¶37. MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION: FAY CHUNG — HAS TAKEN OVER THIS NEW MINISTRY WHICH WAS SPUN OFF FROM THE ORIGINAL MINISTRY OF EDUCATION. CHUNG, A ZIMBABWEAN OF CHINESE DESCENT, WAS NAMED DEPUTY MINISTER OF EDUCATION SHORTLY BEFORE HER ELECTION TO PARLIAMENT AS A NON-CONSTITUENT MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY IN OCTOBER 1987. SHE HAD SERVED IN THE MINISTRY’S CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT UNIT FROM 1983 TO 1987. CHUNG WAS A PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHER. SHE JOINED ZANU IN 1973 AND MOVED TO MOZAMBIQUE IN 1975 WHERE SHE WORKED IN POLITICAL EDUCATION AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT. IN THIS CAPACITY SHE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR TEACHER TRAINING AND TEXTBOOK PRODUCTION. CHUNG’S TEACHER-TRAINING PROGRAM IN MOZAMBIQUE IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN THE FORERUNNER OF THE CURRENT ZIMBABWE INTEGRATED NATIONAL TEACHER EDUCATION COURSE (ZINTEC), IN WHICH CHUNG HAS CONTINUED TO BE ACTIVE. SHE ALSO HAD A ROLE IN DEVELOPING THE ZIMBABWE FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION WITH PRODUCTION (ZIMFEP). CHUNG RECEIVED HER B.A. AT THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODESIA, AND EARNED AN M.A. AT LEEDS (UK) UNIVERSITY. SHE WAS BORN IN 1941 AND HAS ONE CHILD. SHE IS EXPECTED TO TRAVEL TO THE US ON A USIS IV GRANT IN MID-1981.
¶38. (C) CHUNG HAS BEEN CHARACTERIZED BY A LOCAL OPINION MAGAZINE AS THE “STAR APPOINTEE” IN THE NEW GOVERNMENT, AND IT IS CLEAR THAT CHUNG’S STAR HAS BEEN ON THE RISE IN THE LAST YEAR. CHUNG, WHO HAS A REPUTATION FOR HAVING RADICAL POLITICAL VIEWS, IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN A LECTURER ON IDEOLOGY FOR THE ZANLA CADRES IN MOZAMBIQUE. CHUNG REPORTEDLY IS ALSO A DEVOUT CATHOLIC. SHE HAD HER CHILD DURING HER STAY IN THE BUSH, BUT SHE DID NOT MARRY, AND THE FATHER’S IDENTITY IS NOT PUBLICLY KNOWN. WHILE IN MOZAMBIQUE CHUNG WAS REPORTEDLY CLOSE TO MUGABE, BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT SHE AND MUGABE HAD A SERIOUS FALLING OUT WHICH RESULTED IN HER BEING IGNORED BY THE PARTY AND UNEMPLOYED AFTER INDEPENDENCE. THIS INCIDENT HAS NOT BEEN MENTIONED IN THE PRESS WHICH HAS FEATURED ARTICLES ON HER RECENTLY. WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT PROMPTED CHUNG’S RECENT RETURN TO FAVOR WITH MUGABE. CHUNG DOES NOT HAVE AN INDEPENDENT POLITICAL BASE AND HER POSITION RESTS ON THE CONTINUED FAVOR OF MUGABE. HER RAPID ELEVATION TO THE MINISTRY OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION MAY VERY WELL BE DUE TO THE URGENT NEED FOR THE GOZ TO RESTRUCTURE THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM TO REMEDY THE SCHOOL LEAVER CRISIS.
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¶39. (U) MINISTER OF COMMUNITY AND CO-OPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT AND WOMEN’S AFFAIRS: TERAI ROPA (JOYCE) MUJURU A/K/A: TERAI ROPA NHONGO— IS A MEMBER OF THE ZANU POLITBURO AND SERVES AS PARTY SECRETARY FOR WOMEN’S AFFAIRS. IN 1980 SHE BECAME THE FIRST WOMAN AND YOUNGEST MEMBER OF THE CABINET WHEN SHE WAS APPOINTED AS THE MINISTER OF YOUTH, SPORT, AND CULTURE. SINCE JANUARY 1981 SHE HAS SERVED AS THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND WOMEN’S AFFAIRS ATTACHED TO THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE. WITH THE FORMATION OF THIS NEW GOVERNMENT, MUJURU’S OFFICE HAS BEEN CONVERTED INTO A MINISTRY WITH THE ADDITION OF COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT ADDED TO THE PORTFOLIO. DURING THE STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE, MUJURU JOINED ZANLA IN 1973, BECAME A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL STAFF, AND WAS OVERALL COMMANDER OF THE WOMEN’S DETACHMENT WHEN IT WAS FORMED IN 1974. MUJURU IS A MEMBER OF THE POLITBURO AND SERVES AS THE PARTY SECRETARY FOR WOMENS AFFAIRS. SHE IS MARRIED TO THE ARMY COMMANDER AND HAS THREE CHILDREN, BUT IS ESTRANGED FROM HIM. SHE IS A ZEZURU AND WAS BORN IN 1955.
¶40. (U) MINISTER OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND TOURISM: VICTORIA CHITEPO — IS THE THIRD AND FINAL WOMAN IN THE CABINET. SHE HAS HELD THIS PORTFOLIO SINCE FEBRUARY 1982, HAVING PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS DEPUTY MINISTER SINCE JANUARY 1981. HER PREVIOUS ASSIGNMENT WAS AS DEPUTY MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND CULTURE, TO WHICH SHE WAS APPOINTED IN 1980. CHITEPO, A TEACHER BY TRAINING, IS THE WIDOW OF HERBERT CHITEPO, THE ZANU NATIONAL CHAIRMAN WHO WAS ASSASSINATED IN ZAMBIA IN 1977. SHE TRAVELED TO THE US IN 1985 ON A USIA IV GRANT. CHITEPO WAS BORN IN 1927.
¶41. (C) CHITEPO IS SAID TO OWE HER POSITION IN GOVERNMENT TO RESPECT FOR HER LATE HUSBAND. SHE IS A VERY POOR ADMINISTRATOR. SHE IS A MANYIKA, BUT DOES NOT APPARENTLY HAVE HER OWN POLITICAL FOLLOWING.
¶42. (U) MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, RURAL AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT: ENOS CHIKORWORE — HAS HELD THIS PORTFOLIO SINCE FEBRUARY 1982. HE PREVIOUSLY WAS APPOINTED AS DEPUTY MINISTER IN JANUARY ¶1981. CHIKOWORE BECAME ACTIVE IN POLITICS IN THE LATE 1950’S AND JOINED ZANU IN 1963. AFTER BEING DETAINED HE WENT TO ZAMBIA WERE HE SERVED AS THE PARTY’S FIRST SECRETARY FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND WAS ACTIVE IN THE RECRUITING OF CADRES. HE LEFT TO STUDY IN THE UK IN 1967 AND RETURNED TO ZIMBABWE IN 1980 WHERE HE WAS ELECTED TO THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY AS A REPRESENTATIVE FROM MASHONALAND WEST. CHIKOWORE WAS BORN IN 1936 AND IS A ZEZURU.
¶43. (U) MINISTER OF ENERGY, WATER RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT: KUMBIRAI KANGAI — HAS ALSO RETAINED HIS FORMER CABINET POSITION. KANGAI JOINED THE GOVERNMENT IN 1980 AND FIRST SERVED AS THE MINISTER OF LABOR. HE LATER BECAME THE MINISTER OF ENERGY, WATER RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, THE POSITION HE CONTINUES TO HOLD. A TEACHER BY PROFESSION, KANGAI JOINED ZANU IN 1963 BUT WENT TO THE US IN 1964 WHEN HE LOST HIS TEACHING POSITION FOLLOWING AN ARREST FOR POLITICAL ACTIVITIES. HE STUDIED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA (CAMPUS UNKNOWN) UNTIL 1972, AND SERVED AS ZANU’S CHIEF REPRESENTATIVE TO NORTH AMERICA DURING PART OF THAT TIME. HE WENT TO ZAMBIA IN 1973 AND WAS ELECTED AS A MEMBER OF THE ZANU REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL (DARE). KANGAI, A MANYIKA, WAS BORN IN 1938.
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¶44. (U) MINISTER OF MINES: RICHARD HOVE — BECAME THE MINISTER OF MINES IN JULY 1985, AND HE RETAINS THAT PORTFOLIO IN THE NEW GOVERNMENT. HOVE ENTERED THE GOVERNMENT IN 1980 AS THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE. HE BECAME THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS IN 1981, AND THE MINISTER OF TRADE AND COMMERCE IN 1982. DURING THE EARLY 1960’S, HOVE WAS STUDYING BUSINESS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BOMBAY. AFTER JOINING UP WITH ZANU IN LUSAKA, HE WAS APPOINTED THE PARTY’S CHIEF REPRESENTATIVE TO WESTERN EUROPE. HE WAS RECALLED TO LUSAKA IN 1971 AND WAS NAMED THE SECRETARY FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS AND ELECTED TO THE REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL. HOVE LATER MOVED TO MOZAMBIQUE WITH OTHER ZANU OFFICIALS WHERE HE CONTINUED TO SERVE AS THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS. HOVE, A KARANGA ATTACHED TO THE FACTION LED BY VICE PRESIDENT MUZENDA, WAS BORN IN 1935. HE IS MARRIED AND HAS FOUR CHILDREN.
¶45. (U) MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND TECHNOLOGY: CALLISTUS NDLOVU — HAS BEEN REAPPOINTED TO THIS MINISTRY, A POSITION WHICH HE HAS HELD SINCE JULY 1985. PRIOR TO THIS ASSIGNMENT, NDLOVU WAS APPOINTED MINISTER OF CONSTRUCTION IN JANUARY 1982, AND LATER TOOK OVER THE MINISTRY OF MINES FROM MAURICE NYAGUMBO IN JANUARY ¶1984. NDLOVU SWITCHED HIS PARTY AFFILIATION FROM ZAPU TO ZANU IN JUNE 1984 AND WAS APPOINTED AS THE ZANU CHAIRMAN IN MATABELELAND NORTH. NDLOVU IS A TEACHER BY PROFESSION, HAVING BEEN EDUCATED IN LESOTHO. HE WAS DETAINED IN 1967, AFTER WHICH HE LEFT ON FELLOWSHIP TO STUDY POLITICAL SCIENCE AT N.Y.U. FROM 1967 TO 1980 HE WAS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF HISTORY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE, AND WAS DIRECTOR OF THE AFRICAN STUDIES INSTITUTE AT HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY. NDLOVU ALSO SERVED AS ZAPU’S CHIEF REPRESENTATIVE AT THE UN FROM 1973 TO 1979. BEFORE BECOMING A MINISTER IN 1982, NDLOVU WAS AN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS MANAGER WITH UNION CARBIDE. HE TRAVELED TO THE US IN 1981 ON A USIA IV GRANT. NDLOVU IS IDENTIFIED WITH THE NDEBELE, BUT IT IS SAID THAT HE IS ACTUALLY FROM THE KALANGA TRIBE (WHICH WAS VIRTUALLY INCORPORATED INTO THE NDEBELE). HE WAS BORN IN 1936 AND IS MARRIED WITH FOUR CHILDREN.
¶46. (C) NDLOVU REPORTEDLY REMAINS A FAVORITE OF ZAPU LEADER JOSHUA NKOMO DESPITE NDLOVU’S DEFECTION TO ZANU. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF HIS DEFECTION FROM ZAPU HE HAS LITTLE POLITICAL SUPPORT IN MATABELELAND.
¶47. (U) MINISTER OF TRADE AND COMMERCE: OLIVER MUNYARADZI — HAS ALSO BEEN REAPPOINTED TO HIS PREVIOUS POSITION. HE BECAME THE MINISTER OF TRADE AND COMMERCE IN JULY 1985. HE FIRST ENTERED GOVERNMENT IN 1980 WHEN HE WAS APPOINTED DEPUTY MINISTER OF FINANCE. IN 1982 HE BECAME MINISTER OF HEALTH. MUNYARADZI WAS APPOINTED MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENERGY IN 1984 AND IN NOVEMBER OF THE SAME YEAR HE BECAME THE MINISTER OF ENERGY AND WATER RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, WHICH HE HELD UNTIL HIS APPOINTMENT TO HIS PRESENT POSITION AS COMMERCE MINISTER IN 1985. HE WAS SEVERELY INJURED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT IN 1986 WHICH AFFECTED HIS CAPACITY TO WORK. HE HAS NOT RETURNED TO FULL EFFECTIVENESS SINCE THE ACCIDENT. MUNYARADZI IS A PHYSICIAN BY TRAINING. HE GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF DURBAN AND RECEIVED SPECIAL SURGICAL TRAINING IN THE UK IN 1969. UPON HIS RETURN HE WAS ACTIVE IN ZANU INTERNAL POLITICS AND WAS DETAINED IN 1976. IN 1978 HE BECAME A SENIOR LECTURER IN SURGERY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODESIA. MUNYARADZI IS MARRIED AND HAS THREE SONS. HE WAS BORN IN 1933 AND IS A KARANGA.
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¶48. (U) MINISTER OF NATIONAL SUPPLIES: SIMBI MUBAKO — MUBAKO HAS SERVED AS MINISTER OF NATIONAL SUPPLIES SINCE JULY 1985. MUBAKO IS CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF THE BEST EDUCATED MEMBERS OF THE CABINET. HE BEGAN HIS CAREER AS A JOURNALIST AND WAS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE WEEKLY NEWS AND OPINION MAGAZINE “MOTO”. HE LATER OBTAINED LAW DEGREES AT TRINITY COLLEGE (DUBLIN), AND CONTINUED LAW STUDIES IN LONDON. HE WAS A LECTURER IN LAW AT SOUTHAMPTON UNIVERSITY (UK) FROM 1976 TO 1979. HE WAS A PROFESSOR AND DEAN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LESOTHO
UNTIL HE RETURNED TO ZIMBABWE IN 1980 AND WAS APPOINTED AS MINISTER OF JUSTICE IN MUGABE’S FIRST CABINET. HE WAS LATER APPOINTED AS THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS IN 1984 AND HELD THAT POSITION UNTIL HE WAS APPOINTED AS THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL SUPPLIES IN 1985. MUBAKO IS THOUGHT TO BE A KARANGA. HE WAS BORN IN 1936, IS MARRIED, AND HAS THREE CHILDREN.
¶49. (U) MINISTER OF STATE FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE: CHRIS ANDERSON — ANDERSON, CONSIDERED BY SOME TO BE THE BEST LAWYER IN ZIMBABWE, RETAINS HIS PORTFOLIO AS THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PUBLIC SERVICE, A POSITION HE HAS HELD SINCE 1982. ANDERSON BECAME A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR THE RHODESIAN FRONT IN 1974. HE WAS APPOINTED MINISTER OF JUSTICE IN THE SMITH GOVERNMENT IN 1978 AND LATER BECAME THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE IN THE MUZOREWA GOVERNMENT IN 1979. ANDERSON CONTINUED TO SERVE IN PARLIAMENT AFTER INDEPENDENCE IN 1980, BUT HE LEFT THE RHODESIAN FRONT IN 1982 TO BECOME AN INDEPENDENT. MUGABE APPOINTED HIM MINISTER OF STATE FOR PUBLIC SERVICE THAT SAME YEAR. ANDERSON IS THE FORMER HEAD OF THE BAR AND CONTINUES TO SIT AS AN INDEPENDENT MEMBER OF THE PARLIAMENT. BORN IN JOHANNESBURG IN 1935, ANDERSON CAME TO RHODESIA WITH HIS FAMILY IN 1938. HE TRAVELLED TO THE US IN 1985 ON A USIA IV GRANT. ANDERSON IS MARRIED AND HAS THREE CHILDREN.
¶50. (C) AS A MEMBER OF THE RF, ANDERSON WAS KNOWN FOR ESPOUSING RACIST VIEWS. HE DID A COMPLETE ABOUT FACE IN 1982. HE IS THOUGHT TO BE KEPT IN HIS MINISTERIAL POSITION BY MUGABE IN AN EFFORT TO PROMOTE INTEGRITY WITHIN THE CIVIL SERVICE. HE HAS NO POLITICAL BASE IN THE WHITE COMMUNITY AND IS NOT REGARDED BY WHITES AS “THEIR SPOKESMAN” IN GOVERNMENT. HE IS AN AVID FLY FISHERMAN.
¶51. (U) MINISTER OF STATE FOR NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS: JOSEPH CULVERWELL — CULVERWELL IS NEW TO THE CABINET, HAVING PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF EDUCATION. HE IS THE ONLY “COLOURED” MINISTER. A TEACHER BY PROFESSION, CULVERWELL WAS EDUCATED IN SOUTH AFRICA AND BRITAIN. HE WAS IMPRISONED FOR POLITICAL ACTIVITIES IN 1967 AND FOLLOWING HIS RELEASE WENT TO WORK AS A TEACHER IN THE UK. DURING THIS TIME IT IS SAID THAT HE WAS ACTIVE ASSISTING ZIMBABWEANS WHO WERE IN EXILE IN BRITAIN. CULVERWELL RETURNED TO ZIMBABWE IN 1980 TO CAMPAIGN FOR ZANU. AFTER THE ELECTION HE WAS APPOINTED TO THE SENATE. CULVERWELL HAS SERVED CONTINUOUSLY IN THE SENATE SINCE 1980 AND SINCE 1981 HE HAS SERVED AS DEPUTY MINISTER FOR EDUCATION.
¶52. (C) CULVERWELL, A COLOURED, IS REPORTEDLY NOT VERY POPULAR WITH THE COLOURED POPULATION IN ZIMBABWE. HIS POLITICAL POSITION IS DUE TO HIS PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH MUGABE AND OTHER ZANU BOSSES FOR WHOM HE DID FAVORS AND RAN ERRANDS DURING THE LANCASTER HOUSE CONFERENCE IN LONDON. IT IS NOT AT ALL CLEAR WHAT CULVERWELL IS EXPECTED TO DO IN THIS NEWLY CREATED POSITION AND EVEN THE LOCAL PRESS HAS SUGGESTED THAT IT IS A “DO NOTHING” JOB. CULVERWELL IS WELL KNOWN AS AN “OLD ROGUE” WHO IS USUALLY SEEN IN THE COMPANY OF LADY FRIENDS MUCH YOUNGER THAN HE. HE IS A FREQUENT VISITOR TO LOCAL NIGHT SPOTS, THOUGH HAS GIVEN UP SMOKING AND ALCOHOL FOR HEALTH REASONS.
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DEPUTY CABINET MINISTERS
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¶53. (U) FIFTEEN DEPUTY CABINET MINISTERS HAVE BEEN APPOINTED TO THE NEW GOVERNMENT (UP FROM THE ELEVEN DEPUTY MINISTERS WHICH WERE FEATURED IN THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT). NOT ALL MINISTRIES HAVE DEPUTY MINISTERS, AND WE HAVE OBSERVED THAT THE MINISTRIES WHICH DEAL MOST DIRECTLY WITH NATIONAL SECURITY (SUCH AS FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENSE, AND HOME AFFAIRS) DO NOT/NOT HAVE DEPUTY MINISTERS. WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE ABSENCE OF DEPUTY MINISTERS IS TYPICAL FOR CERTAIN KEY MINISTRIES BECAUSE, IN THE ABSENCE OF THE MINISTER FROM A KEY MINISTRY, MUGABE APPOINTS ANOTHER OF HIS CLOSEST MINISTERS TO ACT IN THE PLACE OF THE ABSENT MINISTER RATHER THAN ALLOW THE MANAGEMENT OF A KEY MINISTRY TO FALL TO A DEPUTY MINISTER. THE DEPUTY MINISTERS IN THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT ARE:
¶54. (U) KENNETH BUTE, DEPUTY MINISTER FOR COMMUNITY AND COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT AND WOMEN’S AFFAIRS: — BUTE IS NEW TO THE GOVERNMENT AND HIS PORTFOLIO IS A NEW ADDITION TO THE GOZ SINCE HIS IS ONE OF THE NEWLY CREATED MINISTRIES. BUTE ONLY RECENTLY GOT INVOLVED IN NATIONAL POLITICS, HAVING BEEN FIRST ELECTED TO THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY IN 1985 AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE GOROMONZI DISTRICT. HE IS NOT GENERALLY WELL KNOWN AND IS SAID TO BE A BUSINESSMAN BY PROFESSION. HE IS A ZEZURU.
¶55. (U) GEORGE CHINENGUNDU, DEPUTY MINISTER FOR JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS: — CHINENGUNDU IS ALSO OCCUPYING A NEWLY CREATED POSITION. HE IS, HOWEVER, A VETERAN OF THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT, HAVING PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND TOWN PLANNING SINCE 1982. CHINENGUNDU MADE THE NEWS IN 1986 BY DISSOLVING THE WEDZA DISTRICT COUNCIL FOR MALADMINISTRATION. HE IS A LAWYER BY PROFESSION AND MADE HIS POLITICAL REPUTATION BY REPRESENTING POLITICAL PRISONERS DURING THE NATIONALIST STRUGGLE. HE WAS NOT OTHERWISE BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN POLITICS. CHINENGUNDU IS ALSO A SENATOR. HE IS A MANYIKA.
¶56. (U) CHARLES DUKE, DEPUTY MINISTER FOR MINES: — DUKE IS NEW TO THE GOVERNMENT AND IS OCCUPYING ANOTHER NEWLY-CREATED POSITION. HE IS A GEOLOGIST BY TRAINING. DUKE, A WHITE, WAS FORMERLY A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT WITH THE OPPOSITION CONSERVATIVE ALLIANCE OF ZIMBABWE (CAZ) PARTY. IN 1985 HE BECAME THE FIRST WHITE MP TO CROSS OVER TO JOIN ZANU.
¶57. (C) DUKE IS CONSIDERED AN OPPORTUNIST AND A POLITICAL LIGHTWEIGHT. HE IS NOT PARTICULARLY WELL REGARDED IN THE WHITE COMMUNITY.
¶58. (U) JOCK KAY, DEPUTY MINISTER FOR LANDS, AGRICULTURE AND RURAL RESETTLEMENT:— KAY IS ALSO NEW TO GOVERNMENT AND IS OCCUPYING ANOTHER NEWLY-CREATED POSITION. KAY IS THE OTHER WHITE DEPUTY MINISTER AND, LIKE DUKE, HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST WHITE CAZ MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT TO CROSS THE AISLE AND JOIN ZANU. KAY IS A COMMERCIAL FARMER FROM THE WEDZA DISTRICT.
¶59. (C) FELLOW WHITES, INCLUDING THE COMMERCIAL FARMERS, ARE NOT VERY IMPRESSED WITH KAY’S APPOINTMENT. KAY IS INEXPERIENCED IN GOVERNMENT AND HIS PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE IS ALSO QUESTIONABLE. THE WHITE COMMERCIALFARMERS GENERALLY DOUBT THAT KAY WILL BE CAPABLE OF SAFEGUARDING THEIR INTERESTS EVEN IF HE WISHES TO. KAY HAS BEEN A LONG-TIME, WELL-MEANING AND FAITHFUL EMBASSY CONTACT.
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¶60. (U) AMINA HUGHES, DEPUTY MINISTER OF TRANSPORT: –HUGHES RETAINS THIS PORTFOLIO WHICH SHE HAS HELD SINCE 1985. HUGHES, COLOURED, IS FROM MATABELELAND. SHE FIRST BECAME INVOLVED IN POLITICS AFTER INDEPENDENCE IN 1980 AND WAS ELECTED AS THE SECRETARY FOR THE ZANU WOMEN’S LEAGUE IN MATABELELAND NORTH. HUGHES IS ALSO TO BE ACTIVE IN WOMEN’S AFFAIRS. SHE WAS DEFEATED IN THE 1985 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS AS A ZANU CANDIDATE IN BULAWAYO BUT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY APPOINTED TO THE SENATE AND BECAME THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF TRANSPORT. HUGHES IS SAID TO BE A PROTEGE OF THE FORMER MINISTER OF TRANSPORTATION, HERBERT USHEWOKUNZE. SHE TRAVELLED TO THE US IN 1986 ON A USIA IV GRANT. HUGHES IS A WIDOW WITH TWO ADULT SONS.
¶61. (U) MOTON MALIANGA, DEPUTY MINISTER OF TRADE AND COMMERCE: — MALIANGA, A VETERAN OF THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT, IS NEW TO THIS POSITION AND REPLACES CHIMBINDZAYI SANYANGARE (WHO HAS BEEN DROPPED FROM THE GOVERNMENT). SINCE JANUARY 1981, MALIANGA SERVED CONTINUOUSLY AS THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC PLANNING. HE IS A VETERAN NATIONALIST, FIRST BECOMING INVOLVED IN NATIONALISTS POLITICS IN THE LATE 1950’S. HE WAS ARRESTED IN 1962 AND, UPON HIS RELEASE A YEAR LATER, JOINED ZANU AND BECAME THE PARTY REPRESENTATIVE IN CAIRO. MALIANGA RETURNED TO RHODESIA IN LATE 1964 AND WAS ARRESTED AGAIN. WHILE IN PRISON, HE STUDIED BUSINESS AND LAW BY CORRESPONDENCE. HE WAS RELEASED IN 1971 AND BECAME OF MEMBER OF THE ANC CENTRAL COMMITTEE. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE ANC NEGOTIATING TEAMS AT THE VICTORIA FALLS TALKS AND AT THE GENEVA CONFERENCE. MALIANGA WAS NOT ACTIVE IN POLITICS IN THE LATTER 1970’S; HE RE-EMERGED IN 1980 WHEN HE WAS ELECTED AS A ZANU MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT. MALIANGA WAS BORN IN 1930. HE IS A MANYIKA.
¶62. (U) KENNETH MANYONDA, DEPUTY MINISTER OF INFORMATION, POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS:— MANYONDA IS NEW TO THE CABINET, AND TAKES THIS POSITION FROM NAOMI NHIWATIWA, WHO HAS RECENTLY BEEN APPOINTED AS A MINISTER OF STATE FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS ATTACHED TO ZANU HEADQUARTERS. MANYONDA IS A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT AND PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS THE DIRECTOR OF PERSONNEL FOR THE POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION (PTC), A PARASTATAL WHICH OPERATES UNDER THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION. HE IS A FORMER TRADE UNIONIST AND IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN A LEADER IN THE ZANU YOUTH ORGANIZATION. MANYONDA IS A MANYIKA.
¶63. (U) ROBERT MARERE, DEPUTY MINISTER FOR PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION AND NATIONAL HOUSING:— MARERE IS ONE OF THE TWO INCUMBENT DEPUTY MINISTERS WHO CONTINUES TO HOLD THE SAME PORTFOLIO. HE HAS BEEN DEPUTY MINISTER FOR PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION SINCE 1982. MARARE IS ANOTHER VETERAN NATIONALIST WHO FIRST BECAME INVOLVED IN POLITICS IN THE EARLY 1950’S. HE WAS ARRESTED AND DETAINED AT VARIOUS TIMES DURING THE STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE AND WAS A ZANU DELEGATE TO THE GENEVA CONFERENCE. MARARE WAS ELECTED AS A ZANU MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT IN 1980. MARARE WAS BORN IN 1919 AND IS MARRIED WITH SEVEN CHILDREN. HE IS IDENTIFIED WITH THE ZEZURU.
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¶64. (U) LTC. HERBERT MAHLABA (ALSO KNOWN AS BY HIS NOM DE GUERRE: “CLEMENCE GAZA”), DEPUTY MINISTER OF LABOUR, MANPOWER PLANNING AND SOCIAL WELFARE: — MAHLABA IS ALSO NEW TO THE GOVERNMENT AND HE OCCUPIES ANOTHER NEWLY CREATED POSITION. MAHLABA IS A MILITARY OFFICER BY PROFESSION, HAVING PREVIOUSLY BEEN A ZANLA COMBATANT DURING THE NATIONALIST STRUGGLE. MAHLABA HAS RECENTLY RECEIVED A GOOD DEAL OF PUBLIC ATTENTION AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ZIMBABWE-MOZAMBIQUE FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION (ZIMOFA), WHICH HAS BEEN RAISING RELIEF AID IN ZIMBABWE FOR MOZAMBIQUE. MAHLABA ONLY RECENTLY BECAME INVOLVED IN POLITICS WHEN HE WAS ELECTED TO A NON-CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY SEAT IN OCTOBER 1987. MAHLABA WAS REQUIRED TO RESIGN HIS COMMISSION AT THE TIME OF HIS ELECTION TO PARLIAMENT. HE IS AN KARANGA.
¶65. (C) MAHLABA WAS AN UNDISTINGUISHED ARMY OFFICER WHO HAS THE REPUTATION FOR BEING A “NICE GUY” WITH A PLEASANT, ALMOST JOLLY, PERSONALITY. HE ALSO HAS BEEN SUSPECTED OF SKIMMING OFF ZIMOFA FUNDS FOR PERSONAL USE AND IS BELIEVED TO BE CORRUPTIBLE. MAHLABA MAY HAVE BEEN APPOINTED SIMPLY TO SHOW THAT KARANGAS ARE BEING ELEVATED TO SENIOR GOVERNMENT POSITIONS BUT, AS A NON-CONSTITUENT MP WITH NO PERSONAL POLITICAL BASE, HE IS ESSENTIALLY A POLITICAL NONENTITY WHO MAY EVENTUALLY FADE AWAY. IN THE MEANWHILE, ANOTHER KARANGA OFFICER WAS SHIFTED OUT OF THE ARMY. (SEE REF D FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE
MILITARY OFFICERS IN THE CABINET.)
¶66. (U) TICHAENDEPI MASAYA, DEPUTY MINISTER OF FINANCE, ECONOMIC PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT: — MASAYA IS NEW TO THE CABINET, TAKING OVER THIS POSITION FROM MOTON MALIANGA WHO IS NOW DEPUTY MINISTER OF TRADE AND COMMERCE. MASAYA IS A STATISTICIAN BY TRAINING AND HAS LECTURED IN ECONOMICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE SINCE 1981. HE IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE BOARD AND IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION (PTC), THE COMMUNICATIONS PARASTATAL WHICH OPERATES UNDER THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION. MASAYA IS SAID TO BE ACTIVE IN HARARE DISTRICT POLITICS, AND WAS ELECTED TO PARLIAMENT IN 1985 TO REPRESENT THE NYANGA DISTRICT OF MANICALAND. HE IS A MANYIKA.
¶67. (U) SWITHUN MOMBESHORA, DEPUTY MINISTER FOR HEALTH: — MOMBESHORA SERVED AS THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF LANDS AND AGRICULTURE IN THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT. HE HAS TAKEN OVER AS DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH FROM EDWARD PSWARAYI WHO IS NO LONGER IN GOVERNMENT. MOMBESHORA WAS REPORTEDLY ACTIVE IN ZANU YOUTH POLITICS AND LATER ASSISTED ZANLA BY ORGANIZING FINANCES AND SUPPLIES INSIDE THE COUNTRY DURING THE NATIONALIST STRUGGLE. HE IS A PHYSICIAN BY TRAINING AND WAS ACTIVE IN THE 1980 ELECTION CAMPAIGN. MOMBESHORA TRAVELLED TO THE US IN 1983 ON A USIA IV GRANT. HE WAS BORN IN 1945 AND IS MARRIED WITH TWO DAUGHTERS AND ONE SON. MOMBESHORA IS A ZEZURU.
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¶68. (U) LOT SENDA MOYO, DEPUTY MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, RURAL AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT: — MOYO IS NEW TO THE GOVERNMENT AND REPLACES GEORGE CHINENGUNDU (WHO IS NOW THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF JUSTICE) IN THIS POSITION. MOYO IS ONE OF TWO ZAPU MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AND NDEBELES WHO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT INTO THE GOVERNMENT AS A DEPUTY MINISTER. AS IS THE CASE WITH MANY ZAPU POLITICIANS, MOYO HAS DEVOTED HIMSELF ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY TO PARTY BUSINESS AND IS CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF THE ZAPU “OLD GUARD”.
¶69. (U) CHARLES NDLOVU, DEPUTY MINISTER OF YOUTH, SPORT AND CULTURE: — NDLOVU IS NEW TO THE CABINET AND TAKES OVER THIS POSITION FROM AMOS MIDZI WHO IS NO LONGER IN GOVERNMENT. NDLOVU, A ZEZURU, WAS ONCE A DISC JOCKEY WITH THE RHODESIAN BROADCASTING CORP. HE LEFT FOR MAPUTO IN THE MIND-1970’S WHERE HE BECAME A BROADCASTER ON “THE VOICE OF FREE ZIMBABWE”. IN THE EARLY 1980’S, HE WAS NAMED HEAD OF PRODUCTION SERVICES IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION, AND IN 1985 HE BECAME HEAD OF THE PARASTATAL CENTRAL FILM LABORATORIES. HE IS ALSO THE HEAD OF THE ZANU YOUTH WING. IN 1985 HE WAS ELECTED AS A ZANU MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT.
¶70. (C) NDLOVU IS CONSIDERED A PARTY HACK WITH FAIRLY CLOSE TIES TO MUGABE. AS HEAD OF THE YOUTH WING OF THE PARTY, HE HAS HAD VERY CLOSE CONTACT WITH EAST BLOC NATIONS, NORTH KOREA AND CHINA, ALL OF WHOM HAVE SUPPORTED THE YOUTH WING. HOWEVER, HE IS ALSO VERY ACCESSIBLE TO US AND AN OCCASIONALLY USEFUL CONTACT WITH THE PARTY’S IDEOLOGICAL WING. HE WAS MOVED FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION TO CENTRAL FILM LABS IN 1985 AFTER A SCANDAL IN WHICH AN ALLEGED ZDOLS 50,000 WAS EMBEZZLED FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PRODUCTION SERVICES THROUGH A FALSE PAYROLL SCHEME. THE DEPARTMENT’SACCOUNTANT COMMITTED SUICIDE, BUT NDLOVU–WHO IS WIDELY THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY INVOLVED–WAS SAVED, PROBABLY THROUGH HIS TIES WITH MUGABE. THOUGH MARRIED, NDLOVU IS WELL KNOWN AS A WOMANIZER AND HEAVY DRINKER. HE IS A REGISTERED MEMBER OF THE NORTON COUNTRY CLUB (HE HAS A FARM IN THE AREA) UNDER HIS PRE-REVOLUTIONARY NAME OF WEBSTER SHAMU.
¶71. (U) EDWARD NDLOVU, DEPUTY MINISTER FOR ENERGY, WATER RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT: — NDLOVU IS NEW TO THE GOVERNMENT AND IS OCCUPYING A NEWLY-CREATED POSITION. HE IS CONSIDERED ANOTHER OF THE
ZAPU “OLD GUARD” AND IS A ZAPU MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FROM GWANDA. NDLOVU IS THE SECOND OF TWO ZAPU MPS AND NDEBELES WHO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT INTO THE GOVERNMENT AS DEPUTY MINISTERS IN THE WAKE OF THE ZANU/ZAPU UNITY AGREEMENT. PRIOR TO ENTERING GOVERNMENT HE HAS MOSTLY DEVOTED HIMSELF TO ZAPU POLITICS.
¶72. (C) NDLOVU IS AN OLD FRIEND OF THE US AND A REGULAR CONTACT OF THE EMBASSY. HE IS A THOUGHTFUL POLITICAL OBSERVER AND A HARDCORE PRAGMATIST.
¶73. (U) HENRY POTE, DEPUTY MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND TECHNOLOGY: — POTE IS NEW TO THE GOVERNMENT AND IS OCCUPYING A NEWLY-CREATED POSITION. HE IS A ZANU MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FROM CHIREDZI. POTE IS NOT WELL KNOWN NATIONALLY OR IN HARARE, AND IT IS BELIEVED THAT HE WAS SELECTED FOR A POSITION IN THE GOVERNMENT TO BE A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NDAU-SPEAKING POPULATION OF THE LOW VELDT IN MASVINGO PROVINCE. POTE IS A KARANGA, HOWEVER, AND THERE IS SOME THOUGHT THAT HE IS ACTUALLY OF VENDA DESCENT. THE VENDA IS A SMALL TRIBE IN THE LOW VELDT THAT IS NOT OF SHONA ORIGIN BUT WAS ESSENTIALLY INCORPORATED INTO THE KARANGA.
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MINISTERS OF STATE FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS (PARTY APPOINTEES)
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¶74. (U) THE MINISTERS OF STATES FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS ARE NEWLY CREATED FORMED TO ACCOMMODATE FOUR FORMER MINISTERS AND ONE FORMER DEPUTY MINISTER WHO ARE NO LONGER IN GOVERNMENT. THESE MINISTERS OF STATE FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS ARE OFFICIALLY DESIGNATED AS “PARTY APPOINTEES”; THEY REPORT TO MAURICE NYAGUMBO, THE SENIOR MINISTER FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS IN THE PRESIDENT’S OFFICE. THOUGH THEY ARE CONSIDERED PARTY APPOINTEES, THE SALARIES OF THESE MINISTERS OF STATE FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS ARE PAID FOR BY THE GOVERNMENT. THESE MINISTERS OF STATE WILL BE SUPPORTED BY THREE DEPUTY MINISTERS OF STATE FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS.
¶75. (U) ERNEST KADUNGURE: PREVIOUSLY SERVED IN THE CABINET AS THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR DEFENSE SINCE JANUARY 1984. PRIOR TO THAT HE WAS APPOINTED MINISTER OF YOUTH, SPORT AND CULTURE IN 1981. IMMEDIATELY AFTER INDEPENDENCE, KADUNGURE SERVED AS THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND POWER. KANDUNGURE JOINED ZAPU IN 1962 BUT IN 1964 MOVED TO ZAMBIA TO WORK. HE JOINED THE ARMED STRUGGLE IN 1968 AND SERVED IN ZANLA. HE BECAME A MEMBER OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE IN 1977 AND BECAME THE PARTY SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND CULTURE. HE LATER WAS APPOINTED AS THE PARTY’S FINANCE SECRETARY. KADUNGURE IS CURRENTLY A ZANU MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, THE PARTY SECRETARY FOR YOUTH AND A MEMBER OF THE POLITBURO. AS AMINISTER OF STATE FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS, KADUNGURE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PLANNING THE GOVERNMENT’S NATIONAL SERVICE WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO ALLEVIATING THE GROWING UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM CAUSED BY THE LARGE NUMBER OF “SCHOOL LEAVERS”. THIS NATIONAL SERVICE SCHEME IS SUPPOSED TO CONCENTRATE ON MILITARY SERVICE AND AGRICULTURAL TRAINING. KANDUNGURE WAS BORN IN 1942, IS MARRIED AND HAS ONE CHILD. HE IS A ZEZURU.
¶76. (C) A SOURCE TELLS US THAT MUGABE PROBABLY RELIEVED KADUNGURE FROM HIS PREVIOUS POSITION AS THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR DEFENSE BECAUSE OF POOR PERFORMANCE.
¶77. (U) NAOMI NHIWATIWA: PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF INFORMATION, POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS SINCE APRIL 1982. PRIOR TO THAT SHE SERVED AS THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF ROADS AND ROAD TRANSPORTATION, AND THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND WOMEN’S AFFAIRS. AFTER COMPLETING HER SECONDARY EDUCATION IN RHODESIA, NHIWATIWA WENT TO COLLEGE IN THE UNITED STATES. SHE RECEIVED A DEGREE IN NUTRITION FROM LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, NEBRASKA (SIC), AND A MASTER’S DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY AT WAYNE STATE (DETROIT).SHE LATER RECEIVED A PH.D. IN COMMUNICATIONS FROM NYU. NHIWATIWA RETURNED TO ZIMBABWE FOLLOWING THE LANCASTER HOUSE AGREEMENT AND WAS ELECTED AS A ZANU MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT. NHIWATIWA TRAVELED TO THE US IN 1982 ON A USIA IV GRANT. SHE IS A MANYIKA. NHIWATIWA WAS BORN IN 1942 AND IS UNMARRIED.
¶78. (C) NHIWATIWA HAD THE REPUTATION FOR BEING SOMETHING OF A “PLAYGIRL” WHICH, ALONG WITH ALLEGATIONS OF POOR PERFORMANCE AS A DEPUTY MINISTER, IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN THE MAIN REASON FOR HER DEMOTION.
¶79. (U) FREDERICK SHAVA: IS THE FORMER MINSTER OF LABOUR, MANPOWER PLANNING AND SOCIAL WELFARE, A POSITION HE HAS HELD SINCE JANUARY 1981. DURING THE NATIONALIST STRUGGLE, SHAVA WAS STUDYING AT UNIVERSITY IN LONDON. HE WAS ZANU CHAIRMAN IN THE UK AND WAS LATER NAMED IN 1977 AS CHIEF ZANU REPRESENTATIVE IN EUROPE. HE PARTICIPATED IN THE LANCASTER HOUSE CONFERENCE, RETURNED TO ZIMBABWE IN JANUARY 1980 AND WAS ELECTED TO PARLIAMENT. THOUGH SHAVA IS A KARANGA, HE IS IDENTIFIED WITH THE ZEZURU CLIQUE. HE IS MARRIED AND HAS THREE CHILDREN. SHAVA IS 40 YEARS OLD.
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¶80. (U) HERBERT USHEWOKUNZE: WAS THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORTATION IN THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT, A POSITION HE HELD SINCE JANUARY 1984. A MEDICAL DOCTOR BY PROFESSION, USHEWOKUNZE SERVED AS ZIMBABWE’S FIRST MINISTER OF HEALTH UNTIL 1981. HE THEN SERVED AS THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS UNTIL LATE 1982. USHEWOKUNZE STUDIED MEDICINE IN SOUTH AFRICA AND WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN TO OPEN A MEDICAL PRACTICE IN MATABELELAND. HE JOINED THE YOUTH WING OF ZANU IN 1963 AND HELPED ORGANIZE THE UNDERGROUND CELLS. IN 1976 HE JOINED UP WITH THE ZANU LEADERSHIP IN MOZAMBIQUE, BECAME A MEMBER OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE, AND WAS NAMED THE PARTY SECRETARY FOR HEALTH. USHEWOKUNZE IS MARRIED AND HAS TEN CHILDREN. HE WAS BORN IN 1938 AND IS A ZEZURU.
¶81. (C) USHEWOKUNZE IS POPULAR AMONG THE ZEZURU AND ONE OF THE FEW MEMBERS OF THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT WITH HIS OWN POWER BASE. HE ALSO HAS A REPUTATION FOR BEING VERY INEFFICIENT AND VERY CORRUPT.
¶82. (U) EDDISON ZVOBGO: WAS THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS IN THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT. IN THAT POSITION, WHICH HE HELD SINCE 1982, ZVOBGO WAS IN CHARGE OF PREPARING THE CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES WHICH LED TO THE ABOLITION OF RACIAL REPRESENTATION IN THE PARLIAMENT AND THE CREATION OF THE EXECUTIVE PRESIDENCY. IN HIS NEW POSITION AS A MINISTER OF STATE FOR PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, ZVOBGO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PLANNING THE REORGANIZATION OF ZANU TO ACCOMMODATE THE RECENTLY INCORPORATED ZAPU. IN JUNE 1960 ZVOBGO WAS APPOINTED CHIEF REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY (NDP – THE NATIONALIST SUCCESSOR TO THE BANNED ANC) AT THE UN. HE ATTENDED TUFTS UNIVERSITY. ZVOBGO RETURNED TO RHODESIA IN 1963 AND WAS A FOUNDER OF ZANU. HE SERVED AS THE DEPUTY
SECRETARY GENERAL OF ZANU UNTIL 1977. ZVOBGO WAS DETAINED, DURING WHICH TIME HE STUDIED LAW AND WAS ADMITTED TO THE BAR. HE RETURNED TO THE US IN 1972 TO CONTINUE HIS STUDIES AT THE FLETCHER SCHOOL (TUFTS) AND HARVARD LAW. HE LATER TAUGHT AS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT THE LEWIS UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW IN ILLINOIS. ZVOBGO WAS A LEGAL ADVISOR FOR ZANU AT THE GENEVA CONFERENCE AND WAS A MEMBER OF THE ZANU DELEGATION AT THE LANCASTER HOUSE CONFERENCE. HE RETURNED TO ZIMBABWE IN 1980 AND WAS THE ZANU ELECTION CHAIRMAN. ZVOBGO TRAVELLED TO THE US IN 1987 ON A USIA IV GRANT. HE IS MARRIED TO ANOTHER MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, JULIA ZVOBGO, AND HAS FOUR CHILDREN. ZVOBGO WAS BORN IN 1935 AND IS A KARANGA.
¶83. (C) ZVOBGO WAS ALSO ONE OF THE FEW MEMBERS OF THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT WITH A POPULAR BASE OF SUPPORT (IN HIS CASE IN MASVINGO PROVINCE). HE WAS FORMERLY ZANU PARTY CHAIRMAN OF MASVINGO AND A MEMBER OF THE POLITBURO BUT WAS RELIEVED OF THESE POSTS IN 1986 AS A RESULT OF A POWER STRUGGLE WITH FELLOW KARANGA AND THEN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER MUZENDA. HE HAS A SERIOUS DRINKING PROBLEM WHICH MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO HIS DEMOTION.
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DEPUTY MINISTERS OF STATE
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¶84. (U) GENERAL JEVAN MASEKO: IS THE FORMER ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF FOR ADMINISTRATION AND QUARTERMASTER. AS A DEPUTY MINISTER OF STATE, MASEKO’S MILITARY EXPERIENCE SHOULD BE ESPECIALLY USEFUL AS HE WILL BE WORKING UNDER MINISTER OF STATE KANDUNGURE IN THE PREPARATION OF A NATIONAL SERVICE PLAN. HE LEFT THIS POSITION AND RESIGNED HIS COMMISSION TO BECOME A NON-CONSTITUTENT MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT IN NOVEMBER 1987. MASEKO IS A FORMER ZIPRA COMBATANT WHO ENTERED THE NEW ZIMBABWE NATIONAL ARMY AT INDEPENDENCE. HE IS AN NDEBELE.
¶85. (C) MASEKO IS SAID TO BE A PLEASANT FELLOW BUT IS CONSIDERED TO BE A MEDIOCRE OFFICER. THOUGH HE HAS BEEN TO SOME EXTENT COOPTED BY THE SHONA HIERARCHY, HE IS SAID TO STILL BE POPULAR AMONG THE NDEBELE AND MAINTAIN SOME UNOFFICIAL CONTACTS WITH ZAPU. AS A NON-CONSTITUENT MP HE LACKS A CLEARLY DEFINED POLITICAL BASE SO HIS FUTURE WILL DEPEND ON THE CONTINUED GOOD FAVOR OF MUGABE. BY ENTERING THE PARLIAMENT MASEKO HAD TO RESIGN HIS COMMISSION, SO THE SENIOR NDEBELE OFFICER HAS LEFT THE ARMY. (SEE REF D FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE MILITARY OFFICERS IN THE CABINET.)
¶86. (U) SHUVAI MAHOFA: IS ONE OF TWO WOMEN WHO NOW SERVE AS DEPUTY MINISTERS OF STATE. MAHOFA IS A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FROM MASVINGO PROVINCE. DURING THE INDEPENDENCE STRUGGLE MAHOFA SERVED IN AN UNDERGROUND DETATCHMENT WHICH PROVIDED LOGISTICAL SUPPORT TO THE NATIONALIST GUERILLAS. SINCE INDEPENDENCE SHE HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN WOMEN’S AFFAIRS AND WAS ELECTED SECRETARY FOR WELFARE AND TRANSPORTATION IN THE ZANU WOMEN’S LEAGUE. SHE FREQUENTLY TRAVELS WITH THE DELEGATIONS LED BY THE PRESIDENT’S WIFE. MAHOFA IS A KARANGA.
¶87. (U) OPAH MUCHINGURI: HAS ONLY RECENTLY COME TO PUBLIC PROMINENCE. IN NOVEMBER 1987 SHE WAS ELECTED TO A NON-CONSTITUENT PARLIAMENTARY SEAT, AND IN JANUARY 1988 SHE RECEIVED HER FIRST APPOINTMENT TO THE GOVERNMENT AS A DEPUTY MINISTER FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS. BEFORE HER ELECTION TO PARLIAMENT SHE WORKED AS A PRIVATE SECRETARY TO PRIME MINISTER MUGABE. MUCHINGURI JOINED THE LIBERATION STRUGGLE WHEN SHE LEFT HIGH SCHOOL IN 1975. SHE RECEIVED TRAINING IN SECRETARIAL SKILLS AND ACCOUNTING AND SERVED AS THE SECRETARY FOR THE ZANLA HIGH COMMAND. AFTER INDEPENDECE SHE WORKED BRIEFLY IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE BEFORE LEAVING IN 1981 FOR STUDIES IN THE UNITED STATES. SHE GRADUATED FROM MINNESOTA STATE IN 1983 WITH A DEGREE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND SUBSEQUENTLY EARNED A MASTER’S DEGREE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AT USC. SHE RETURNED TO ZIMBABWE IN JANUARY 1986 AND TOOK UP A POSITION IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE. MUCHINGURI IS SAID TO BE VERY CLOSE TO MUGABE. SHE IS A MANYIKA.
¶88. (C) MUCHINGURI ESSENTIALLY DROPPED OUT OF SIGHT FOR THE FOUR YEARS THAT SHE WAS A STUDENT IN THE US. THERE HAS BEEN SPECULATION THAT SHE DELIBERATELY LEFT THE COUNTRY BECAUSE SHE WAS A SURVIVOR OF THE AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT WHICH KILLED ZANLA COMMANDER JOSIAH TONGONGARA IN 1980. WHILE THE OFFICIAL INQUIRY RULED THAT TONGONGARA’S DEATH WAS AN ACCIDENT, DOUBTS CONTINUED AND SOME FELT THAT MUCHINGURI KNEW MORE THAN HAD BEEN TOLD TO THE PUBLIC. MUCHINGURI KEPT A LOW PROFILE FOR THE FIRST YEAR AND A HALF AFTER HER RETURN TO ZIMBABWE IN 1986. AS HAS BEEN THE CASE WITH FAY CHUNG, MUCHINGURI’S STAR HAS BEEN ON THE RISE SINCE HER ELECTION TO PARLIAMENT IN NOVEMBER 1987. WE BELIEVE THAT MUCHINGURI’S RISE IS DUE TO HER REPORTEDLY CLOSE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH MUGABE. WE SUSPECT THAT SHE HAS BEEN APPOINTED AS A DEPUTY TO THE MINISTERS OF STATE FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS SO THAT SHE CAN SPY ON THIS COLLECTION OF ERSTWHILE PARTY LEADERS AND POTENTIAL RIVALS TO MUGABE.
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