In a stunning development, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has fired Energy and Power Development Minister, Honourable Fortune Chasi. He has since been replaced by Soda Zhemu.
Minister Chasi was relieved of his duties with immediate effect on Friday. According to Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda, Chasi was relieved of his duties for conduct that ” had become incompatible with the President’s expectations.”
iHarare is publishing the statement from the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, which outlines the dismissal of Fortune Chasi as Energy Minister.
APPOINTMENT OF HONOURABLE SODA ZHEMU AS MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER DEVELOPMENT TO REPLACE HONOURABLE ADVOCATE FORTUNE CHASI
In terms of Section 104 (1) of the Zimbabwe Constitution Amendment (No.20) 201 Act of 2013, His Excellency the President, Cde Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa has appointed Hon. Soda Zhemu, Member of Parliament for Muzarabani North, as Minister of Energy and Power Development in place of the current minister, Hon. Advocate Fortune Chas.
The latter has been relieved of his ministerial post in terms of Section 108(1a) of the Zimbabwe Constitution Amendment (No. 20) Act of 2013, as his conduct of Government business had become incompatible with the President’s expectations.
The appointment of Hon Soda Zhemu and the removal, of Hon. Fortune Chasi, respectively, are with immediate effect.
Dr Misheck J.M Sibanda
CHIEF SECRETARY TO THE PRESIDENT AND CABINET
Chasi becomes the third minister to be dismissed from President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s post-July 31, 2018 cabinet. First to go was former Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Prisca Mupfumira. Mupfumira was fired in August last year “conduct inappropriate for a Government Minister” after she was arrested on allegations of corruption involving US$95 million.
Last month Obadiah Moyo was fired as Minister of Health and Child for “conduct inappropriate for a Government minister” after he was implicated in a coronavirus equipment procurement scandal.
Curiously, of the three, Chasi is the only to be fired without any scandals or corruption allegations hovering around him.
