President Emmerson Mnangagwa has made significant changes to his ministerial lineup, announcing the immediate removal of Honourable Winston Chitando from his position as Minister of Mines and Mining Development. The decision marks a notable shift within one of Zimbabwe’s most strategic ministries, which oversees the country’s vast mineral resources and plays a central role in economic growth, investment attraction, and national development planning.
The announcement was delivered through an official statement released by the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr. Martin Rushwaya. According to the statement, President Mnangagwa exercised his constitutional authority in terms of Section 340, read together with Section 108 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, to relieve Minister Chitando of his duties. Section 340 outlines the President’s powers to appoint and remove ministers, while Section 108 specifies circumstances under which Cabinet appointments may be terminated.
Although the statement did not elaborate on the reasons behind the decision, the Ministry of Mines has been under sustained public scrutiny in recent years due to challenges related to investment policies, transparency concerns, disputes over mining rights, and growing expectations for the sector to deliver greater revenue to the national fiscus. Analysts and industry stakeholders have often pointed out that the mining sector—contributing the bulk of Zimbabwe’s export earnings—requires consistent leadership, clear policy direction, and firm oversight to unlock its full potential. Against this backdrop, the reshuffle signals a renewed attempt by the government to recalibrate its approach to managing the country’s mineral wealth.
President Mnangagwa Replaces Chitando with Kambamura in Cabinet Shake-Up
Alongside the announcement of Chitando’s removal, Dr. Rushwaya confirmed that President Mnangagwa has appointed Honourable Polite Kambamura as the new Minister of Mines and Mining Development. Kambamura is no stranger to the portfolio, having previously served as Deputy Minister within the same ministry. His promotion is expected to ensure continuity while also bringing in new energy and focus to address the sector’s pressing issues.
Kambamura’s appointment places him at the center of a ministry that oversees key minerals such as gold, platinum, lithium, chrome, diamonds, and coal—resources that are crucial for Zimbabwe’s economic recovery ambitions. His experience working directly under the outgoing minister may provide him with both the institutional knowledge and the operational grounding necessary to tackle the complex environment associated with the mining sector. Stakeholders will likely watch closely to see how he approaches policy consistency, investor confidence, licencing frameworks, and the ongoing drive to formalise and regulate artisanal mining.
The swift nature of the transition, emphasized by the “with immediate effect” clause in the statement, underscores the urgency the President attaches to the mining portfolio. Cabinet reshuffles in Zimbabwe typically spark discussion about the broader direction of government policy, and this particular move is expected to fuel debates about performance, accountability, and the shifting political and economic priorities within the Second Republic.
Over the past six years, the Mnangagwa administration has repeatedly stated that mining is the anchor of Zimbabwe’s projected US$12 billion mining economy. This vision hinges on increased productivity, modernised mining operations, enhanced exploration activities, and stable, transparent regulatory conditions that encourage both domestic and foreign investment. With rising global demand for critical minerals such as lithium, Zimbabwe’s mineral sector stands at a pivotal moment. Many commentators argue that strong leadership is a key ingredient in ensuring that the country does not miss the opportunity presented by global mineral markets.
In this context, Kambamura’s new role will demand a delicate balance between pushing forward government priorities, engaging investors, ensuring compliance within the sector, and addressing longstanding challenges such as leakages, smuggling, inadequate monitoring mechanisms, and disputes involving mining communities.
As with all Cabinet changes, the appointment also comes with political implications. Observers may interpret the reshuffle as part of President Mnangagwa’s ongoing adjustments aimed at strengthening his executive team as he seeks to accelerate national development targets. Others will view it as a reflection of the dynamic internal evaluations carried out within the government structure, where performance and alignment with strategic objectives are scrutinized regularly.
For now, the public and industry players alike will be keenly observing how the new minister steps into his role and what immediate priorities he will outline. With the mining sector holding immense potential to drive job creation, foreign currency earnings, and infrastructure development, the leadership transition marks an important moment for Zimbabwe’s economic trajectory.
According to Dr. Rushwaya’s statement, the Cabinet changes take effect immediately.
Source- ZBC
