Zimbabwe’s new president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has gone green, joked a Zimbabwean-born accountant, one of many attending a "rebuilding Zimbabwe" panel discussion in Johannesburg on Friday morning. The comment followed Mnangagwa’s announcement of a "recycled" cabinet on Thursday, with familiar, old faces. Many had served under his predecessor, Robert Mugabe, who Mnangagwa replaced following a military-backed "soft coup" last month. The four panelists were unimpressed with the much-anticipated cabinet, which was always going to be scrutinised for clues on Mnangagwa’s plan of action following Mugabe’s 37-year rule. "These fellows cannot deliver a globally competitive Zimbabwe, these fellows cannot deliver free and fair elections," said Prof Arthur Mutambara, a former deputy prime minister in Zimbabwe’s short-lived government of national unity, set up after the 2008 elections. According to Dianna Games, the organiser of the discussion: "The announcement of the new cabinet poured cold wat...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.