Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has stripped the Ministry of Communications and Technology of some of its functions, a move sure to test the cohesion of the recently-formed government of national unity.
This has led to harsh criticism of the veteran leader after he reassigned the key functions to a ministry that is held by his party, ZANU (PF).
The Minister of Communications, Nelson Chamisa of the MDC, said the move by Mugabe, which he said he heard about via press reports, was uncalled for.
“What Mr Mugabe has announced is a proposition that will not attract the cooperation of me, and hopefully my party. I am not in Mr Mugabe’s government; I am in an inclusive government. I can’t be demoted by one principal without the other principals agreeing. It has to be a collective,” Chamisa told the media.
The unilateral decision by Mugabe has also attracted criticism from fellow leaders in the all-inclusive government, as the country faces an uphill task in reviving the underdeveloped information and telecommunications sector.
