Mnangagwa demotes foreign minister in cabinet reshuffle

By Agencies

HARARE: President Emmerson Mnangagwa has executed a mini-cabinet reshuffle, demoting Foreign Affairs Minister Frederick Shava to the higher and tertiary education ministry.

The change, announced by Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Martin Rushwaya on Tuesday night, is effective immediately.

In the reshuffle, Shava swapped roles with Amon Murwira who took over the helm of the foreign affairs ministry.

Shava, who has served as foreign affairs minister since 2021, has a controversial history.

He previously resigned from government in the 1980s due to a corruption scandal involving a vehicle deal scheme under which government officials were implicated in purchasing cars from a state-owned manufacturer and reselling them at inflated prices.

Before his role as foreign minister, Shava held significant diplomatic positions, including ambassadorship in China and at the United Nations.