In Pursuit of Freedom and Justice: A Memoir by Cephas G. Msipa

Author:Cephas G. Msipa [Msipa, Cephas G.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Biography & Autobiography, Political
ISBN: 9781779222824
Google: fgJHEAAAQBAJ
Goodreads: 27984121
Publisher: Weaver Press
Published: 2015-11-03T00:00:00+00:00

1 Elections for the 20 white seats had been held on February 14.

7

Ministerial Position

Ministry of Youth, Sport and Recreation

A few days later, Mugabe announced his Cabinet. As we expected, ZANU(PF) controlled most of the ministries, but we could live with that. Nkomo told us of our portfolios. In my case he said it had been decided that I would be deputy minister of Youth, Sport and Recreation under Teurai Ropa Nhongo – her nom de guerre, “the one who sheds blood”. I had never sat down and spoken with her and I didn’t know much about her either. All I knew was that she was much younger than I was, scarcely out of her teens, and with very little education. I told Nkomo to tell the PM that I would not accept my appointment. I hadn’t given much thought to it. One is often guided by pride and prejudice. It was probably because she was a woman and very young. I told Nkomo this and he said to me, “Are you sure you don’t want it?” I said, “Positive, I don’t want it.”

A few days later he said, “I have told the PM and the PM says I should leave the matter between him and you. He will talk to you about it, so for now do nothing.” I said, “Fine.”

A few days later I was called to State House. Mugabe addressed me as “Sekuru” as he always did, and said, “I understand you don’t want this post I am giving you. Tell me why you don’t want it.”

“You know I have a problem with it. For all I know, this girl could be a pupil in my class.”

“Yes, which is true,” he said.

“Secondly, she could be my daughter – my sons are older than she is. So you’re telling me I should work with her under these conditions?”

“Yes, why not?” He explained that his party had agreed that she should be made minister because she was a member of the ZANU(PF) National Executive and secretary of the party’s Women’s League. He had decided that I should assist her to run this ministry. Then he said to me, “Sekuru, please don’t let me down.”

I must say, that did the trick. I didn’t want to feel that I was letting him down. He was my friend and I wasn’t going to disappoint him. So I accepted it, and I did it wholeheartedly, and believe me, we worked extremely well together.

Teurai Ropa surprised me because she was so respectful to me. I had no reason to complain about her behaviour towards me. I heard other deputy ministers complaining that their ministers were arrogant and treated them like servants. But she and I worked so well together, it was as if we were meant for each other. Within a year we had got to know each other extremely well. We had started a new ministry and it was functioning efficiently. I was very happy with the progress we made that year. Cabinet asked us for a recommendation on a location for major sports events.

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