ZIMBABWE FIRES 211 DOCTORS AND HIRES NEW MINISTERS

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday
fired more than 200 doctors who were striking for better
pay but went on to recruit six new ministers for his
cabinet.

The new ministers will come at a huge cost to
government, as they will receive handsome salaries and
benefits at a time the country has refused to award
doctors a meaningful increment, arguing that it does not
have the money.

On the same day, Mnangagwa announced the appointment
of a new ministry as well as five new deputy ministers.
At 25 ministers, 18 deputy ministers and 10 provincial
ministers, Mnangagwa's cabinet could now be larger than
that of President Cyril Ramaphosa. Zimbabwe has a
population of 14-million, slightly more than a quarter of
SA's population of 58,78-million.

It has also ballooned compared with the one he inherited
from the late president Robert Mugabe whom he deposed
and replaced.

Mnangagwa appointed his friends and close allies to the
new portfolios, with associate Daniel Garwe taking over
the newly created ministry of national housing.