President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe, on Monday, defiantly appointed his son, David Kudakwashe Mnangagwa, as the deputy finance minister in a newly constituted cabinet after his re-election.
The president also appointed his relative, Tongai Mafidhi Mnangagwa, who is his nephew, as the deputy minister of tourism and hospitality.
Heavy criticism has followed Mnangagwa’s appointments of family members, raising concerns of nepotism in his government.
According to Africa News, the Zimbabwe president’s son and nephew are part of the newly constituted cabinet, which consists of 26 ministries.
Reacting to the nepotistic appointment, a lawmaker from the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), Fadzayi Mahere, criticized Mnangagwa’s cabinet, describing it as “indefensible.
She raised concerns about legitimacy, corruption, violence, nepotism, incompetence, and ethical issues within the government.
Mnangagwa further appointed husband and wife, Christopher and Monica Mutsvangwa, as ministers.
He gave Christopher the power to lead the new Ministry of Veterans of Liberation, while Monica Mutsvangwa is the new minister of women’s affairs and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
David Mnangagwa, who recently graduated with a law degree from the University of Zimbabwe, entered parliament through the youth quota system on the Zanu PF party list from the Midlands province.
Tongai Mnangagwa is the Zanu PF Member of Parliament for the Hunyani constituency. His late father, David Mnangagwa, was President Mnangagwa’s younger brother.
Reports also suggest that President Mnangagwa is also considering an official role in his office for another of his sons, Emmerson Junior, African News said.
