Dr Noah Manyika says he will cut cabinet posts by more than half and reduce the size of parliament

Dr Noah Manyika, leader of Build Zimbabwe Alliance said that if he wins the next general he will cut the number of cabinet posts by more than half and also reduce the number of legislators in parliament.  Manyika says he would cut at least 16 cabinet posts and have a cabinet of 14. He added that cabinet posts should not be used as rewards for loyalists and promised to appointbest-qualifiedified personnel to rebuild the economy.  He also decried the huge expense bill for the government due to the bloated cabinet and parliament.  Speaking at a press conference today, Manyika said:

For 37 years, the ruling party has burdened our country with a bloated government whose size served no other purpose except to accommodate party loyalists. In the event our party is honored with the mandate to lead our country, we will eliminate over 16 ministries, including all deputy minister positions, and create a lean, high-performing cabinet of fourteen members whose preoccupation will not be fighting wars that have already been won, but measurably advancng and protecting the welfare and liberties of every Zimbabwean citizen. The leaders our country deserves will have more than just technocratic ability. They will be selfless leaders who want for the least of us what they want for themselves.

In 2013, opposition parties in Zimbabwe – in a classic case of politicians looking after their own interests – astonishingly agreed to a dramatic extension of the patronage system through a massive expansion of the legislature to 350 members. The Build Zimbabwe Alliance will field candidates for parliament who are committed to the drastic reduction of non-productive government spending, even if that means supporting the elimination of their own parliamentary seats.

More: Read the full statement here