By Staff Reporter
HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reassigned Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere to the Ministry of Skills Audit and Development (MOSSAD), in what political observers describe as a clear demotion within Cabinet.
The changes, announced in a press statement issued by Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Martin Rushwaya on 11 February 2026, take immediate effect.
Dr Muswere, who had served as the government’s chief spokesperson and overseer of state media, now moves to head the comparatively low-profile Skills Audit and Development portfolio.
While technically strategic, the Skills Audit ministry operates largely outside the political limelight and carries significantly less institutional weight than the Information docket, which sits at the centre of government messaging and narrative control.
In Zimbabwe’s executive structure, control of information is often synonymous with proximity to power.
The Information Ministry routinely positions its occupant at the forefront of Cabinet decisions, policy announcements, and political messaging, making it one of the most visible and influential posts in government.
Dr Muswere’s reassignment is therefore widely interpreted as a step down the Cabinet hierarchy.
Taking over the powerful Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services ministry is Dr Zhemu Soda, who now assumes responsibility for state media oversight and official government communication at a time when constitutional amendments and governance reforms are under heightened public scrutiny.
Also affected by the reshuffle is Prof Paul Mavima, who has been reassigned to the Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities.
The official statement cites Section 104(1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe as the legal basis for the reassignments, but does not explain the changes.
Political analyst James Sibanda said the symbolism of the move is difficult to ignore.
“Information is not just another ministry, it is the megaphone of government,” Sibanda said.
“When you are moved from controlling the megaphone to auditing people’s CVs, it is hard not to see that as a downgrade. There is influence in messaging, far less in spreadsheets.”
The Skills Audit and Development Ministry is mandated to assess Zimbabwe’s human capital and align competencies with national development goals. However, it has rarely dominated headlines or parliamentary debate and has generally remained outside the core political theatre.
By contrast, the Information Ministry places its minister at the centre of daily political discourse and often at the centre of controversy.
With the changes taking effect immediately, Dr Soda is expected to assume control of the Information portfolio without delay, potentially steering forthcoming communications on key legislative and policy matters.
Whether Dr Muswere’s reassignment signals dissatisfaction with his performance, a strategic redeployment, or broader internal recalibration within Cabinet remains unclear.
