Mthuli Ncube Awarded African Finance Minister Of The Year By The Reputation Poll International In UK
Zimbabwe’s Minister of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment Promotion, Professor Mthuli Ncube, has been awarded the African Finance Minister of the Year by Reputation Poll International in the United Kingdom. The award was presented at the 2023 Global Reputation Forum held in the House of Lords in Central London. Expressing his gratitude, Ncube said:
Today, I was greatly honored to be awarded an accolade of the African Finance Minister of the Year by the Reputation Poll International in the United Kingdom at the 2023 Global Reputation Forum in the House of Lords in Central London.
This is not the first time he has been recognised for his achievements in finance. In 2021, he was ranked among the top five Ministers of Finance in Africa by the Senegalese publication “Financial Afrik.”
However, the 2021 award received criticism from former Finance Minister, Tendai Biti who described Ncube’s celebration as disturbing and sycophantic, emphasising the poor state of Zimbabwe’s economy. Back then, Tony Hawkins, a former economics lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe’s Graduate School of Management, said with high inflation rates and unachieved targets, there was little for Ncube to celebrate.
Ncube’s post mentioned that the top 5 ministers were recognised for implementing successful economic policies. This year, criticism came from journalist Hopewell Chin’ono who said:
How much did you pay Reputation Poll International for this one? The same organization that declared Chakwera one of Africa’s top leaders. You are a joke Mthuli.
Farai Maguwu, a Zimbabwean social and political commentator and the founding Director of the Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG), also said:
You are not even ashamed to post this? Then let be ashamed on your behalf!
However, some claim that Ncube is the best Finance Minister Zimbabwe has had since the late Bernard Chidzero and Ariston Chambati. Former MDC-T vice president, Obert Gutu, made this claim in 2019. Gutu praised Ncube as astute and able. Notable finance ministers after Chidzero and Chambati include Simba Makoni, Herbert Murerwa, Samuel Mumbengegwi, Chris Kuruneri, Patrick Chinamasa, Tendai Biti (during the GNU era), and Ignatius Chombo. However, Gutu’s remarks faced backlash from some of his followers, who accused him of being a government apologist.
Ncube’s unpopularity stems from the austerity measures he implemented to address the economic crisis. Many Zimbabweans argued that these measures, such as high taxes, only worsened their already burdensome situation. He has hinted on raising taxes and introducing more in 2024.
