Murerwa given political clout

Finance Minister Herbert Murerwa seems to have been given the political clout he requires to steer the country out of its economic woes. He has been elevated to deputy secretary for economic affairs in the politburo.

Although this was the same position his predecessor Ariston Chambati held, he has not been given the real thing, a seat in the politburo. While there are no vacancies in the politburo itself, the party could have made him a committee member and dropped perhaps one of those who, though senior in the party, does not really have to be in the politburo at the moment.

While local media reports have implied his elevation to deputy secretary puts him in the party’s supreme body, The Insider understands that deputy secretaries are not members of the politburo, just like deputy ministers and some ministers of state are not members of the cabinet.

Nevertheless, it was a fitting recognition. But for Harare executive mayor, Solomon Tawengwa and deputy Industry and Commerce minister Obert Mpofu, their elevation to deputy finance secretary and deputy security secretary, was indeed a promotion.

Tawengwa as leader of the country’s capital and largest city has been given the political clout to solve Harare’s woes. And for Mpofu, this could mean better things to come, perhaps an elevation to a minister.

Murerwa and Tawengwa’s appointments should enable them to do their duties more easily because within ZANU-PF your party position counts more than anything else. Senior government officials are known to have been frustrated by their juniors simply because the juniors happened to be in the central committee while they were not.

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