editorial

WHILE President Robert Mugabe's current cabinet reshuffle, in which Vice-President Joice Mujuru and eight ministers aligned to her Zanu PF faction were fired, was necessary, the quality of new appointments is awful. It does not inspire confidence and thus won't change anything.

Mugabe, economically a non-performer himself, on Monday fired his deputy Mujuru and ministers Didymus Mutasa, Nicholas Goche, Dzikamai Mavhaire, Olivia Muchena, Webster Shamu, Francis Nhema, Munacho Mutezo and Simbaneuta Mudarikwa.

Then yesterday he left Emmerson Mnangagwa in the Justice ministry despite appointing him vice-president on Wednesday, meaning he won't be able to focus on his new duties while in change of a ministry in which he has a lot of work to do now and also in parliament. Phelekezela Mphoko, appointed co-vice-president, is also in charge of National Healing, dividing his attention from day one. Even in Zanu PF Mugabe's deputies have divided duties also as rotating party chairs.

Simon Khaya Moyo was appointed Economic Planning minister. Other changes include Samuel Undenge (Energy) deputised by Tsitsi Muzenda, Supa Mandiwanzira (ICT), while Monica Mutsvangwa replaces him as deputy Information minister. Oppah Muchinguri is now in Higher Education, Christopher Mushowe (Indigenisation), Prisca Mupfumira (Public Service) and Christopher Mutsvangwa (War Veterans). Mandy Chimene and Joel Biggie Matiza are now resident ministers for Manicaland and Mashonaland East respectively. The elderly Victoria Chitepo was initially appointed Women's Affairs minister before the appointment was mysteriously reversed.

A replacement would be made at a later date. Cabinet reshuffles happen for a variety of reasons. Periodically, smaller reshuffles are needed to replace ministers who would have resigned, retired or died, but most importantly they are necessary to refresh the government.

This usually comes when government is battling with poor public opinion ratings or wants to remove bad performers and reward go-getters. A reshuffle also provides an opportunity to abolish, create and rename portfolios as well as reassign responsibilities among ministers. It may also be done to reflect new priorities or for reasons of efficiency.

This is where the problem with Mugabe's current reshuffle is. It was done not to refresh the team to ensure delivery and efficiency, but to punish people in the aftermath of a bitter succession power struggle within Zanu PF in which Mujuru's faction was crushed ahead of the recent congress. In other words, it's a vindictive reshuffle. It is driven by retribution, not economic and delivery imperatives.

The quality of new ministers is appalling. Most of them have no traceable records of success in running anything, including their own lives.

They are just parasitic cronies of the Mnangagwa faction put on the feeding trough. Given the current economic and social problems, what was needed were appointments based on meritocracy and competence.

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Zimbabwe: Cabinet Reshuffle Not Inspirational

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WHILE President Robert Mugabes current cabinet reshuffle, in which Vice-President Joice Mujuru and eight ministers aligned to her Zanu PF faction were fired, was necessary, the quality of new appointments is awful. It does not inspire confidence and thus wont change anything.

THE ZIMBABWE INDEPENDENT EDITORIAL

Mugabe, economically a non-performer himself, on Monday fired his deputy Mujuru and ministers Didymus Mutasa, Nicholas Goche, Dzikamai Mavhaire, Olivia Muchena, Webster Shamu, Francis Nhema, Munacho Mutezo and Simbaneuta Mudarikwa.

Then yesterday he left Emmerson Mnangagwa in the Justice ministry despite appointing him vice-president on Wednesday, meaning he wont be able to focus on his new duties while in change of a ministry in which he has a lot of work to do now and also in parliament. Phelekezela Mphoko, appointed co-vice-president, is also in charge of National Healing, dividing his attention from day one. Even in Zanu PF Mugabes deputies have divided duties also as rotating party chairs.

Simon Khaya Moyo was appointed Economic Planning minister. Other changes include Samuel Undenge (Energy) deputised by Tsitsi Muzenda, Supa Mandiwanzira (ICT), while Monica Mutsvangwa replaces him as deputy Information minister. Oppah Muchinguri is now in Higher Education, Christopher Mushowe (Indigenisation), Prisca Mupfumira (Public Service) and Christopher Mutsvangwa (War Veterans). Mandy Chimene and Joel Biggie Matiza are now resident ministers for Manicaland and Mashonaland East respectively. The elderly Victoria Chitepo was initially appointed Womens Affairs minister before the appointment was mysteriously reversed.

A replacement would be made at a later date. Cabinet reshuffles happen for a variety of reasons. Periodically, smaller reshuffles are needed to replace ministers who would have resigned, retired or died, but most importantly they are necessary to refresh the government.

This usually comes when government is battling with poor public opinion ratings or wants to remove bad performers and reward go-getters. A reshuffle also provides an opportunity to abolish, create and rename portfolios as well as reassign responsibilities among ministers. It may also be done to reflect new priorities or for reasons of efficiency.

This is where the problem with Mugabes current reshuffle is. It was done not to refresh the team to ensure delivery and efficiency, but to punish people in the aftermath of a bitter succession power struggle within Zanu PF in which Mujurus faction was crushed ahead of the recent congress. In other words, its a vindictive reshuffle. It is driven by retribution, not economic and delivery imperatives.

The quality of new ministers is appalling. Most of them have no traceable records of success in running anything, including their own lives.

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Cabinet reshuffle not inspirational

Council leaders say Kidsgrove Sports Centre will be rebuilt

COUNCIL leaders insist a towns leisure centre will be rebuilt despite the fact it could cost the cash-strapped authority 9 million.

Cabinet members at Labour-run Newcastle Borough Council have supported the proposal to replace the aging Kidsgrove Sports Centre.

The authority needs to find nearly 19 million over the next four years simply to fund a basic capital programme, not including major projects.

But cabinet members wholeheartedly backed a report calling for the sports centres replacement, saying the money would be found somehow.

A joint use agreement with Staffordshire County Council, which owns the site, and Clough Hall Technology School, expires in March 2016.

And with the school set to be rebuilt with its own sports provision, concerns have been raised over the future of the sports centre.

But Terry Turner, cabinet member for economic regeneration and ward councillor for Kidsgrove, insisted rebuilding the facility would always be a priority for a Labour-run borough authority.

He said: The people of Kidsgrove deserve this facility. Lets be quite clear, the responsibility to provide swimming facilities is not ours we just maintain it its the responsibility of the county council and the school. They seem to want to walk away from their responsibilities to the people of Kidsgrove in 2016.

If we have to rebuild the centre without assistance, then thats what well do. It isnt going to be easy, and I understand the officers concerns about this. As far as Im concerned this is going to happen.

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Council leaders insist new Kidsgrove Sports Centre 'will happen'

PM Irakli Garibashvili denied rumors about his possible resignation as ridiculous and said that no cabinet reshuffle is planned.

Series of reshuffles since December 5 affecting some of the senior and mid-level officials in executive government, as well as in GDDG, a leading party in the ruling GD coalition, caused speculation about possible broader political implications. Those changes involved replacement of deputy infrastructure minister; head of the interior ministrys internal investigations unit; chairman of the PMs economic council; governor of Guria region; head of governments department overseeing regional governors; head of the Finance Ministrys revenue service.

Last week Zviad Jankarashvili, executive secretary of Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia (GDDG), party founded by ex-PM Ivanishvili and now chaired by PM Irakli Garibashvili, stepped down just two months after being appointed on this post. Jankarashvili, who is a relative of Garibashvili, was head of interior ministrys internal investigations unit, before stepping down in April, 2014. These changes triggered rumors swirl about ex-PM Ivanishvili being behind the recent reshuffles, allegedly aimed at sidelining Jankarashvili and his allies in government; some media sources have also speculated that ex-PM Ivanishvili was not happy by performance of his protg incumbent PM Garibashvili, which could have possibly led to his replacement.

Speaking at a news conference on December 9 PM Garibashvili said in his first public comments since recent series of reshuffles, that such speculation was so ridiculous that I dont even know whether to respond or not.

Prime Minister is head of the government, confirmed by the Parliament and replacing Prime Minister does not happen so easily in democratic states. We continue working, Garibashvili said.

Commenting on ex-PM Ivanishvilis role, Garibashvili said: I want to stress that Bidzina Ivanishvili is not meddling in governments work. I never hide that when needed and when discussing important issues I may call him and ask for an advice, for his opinion.

Garibashvili said that its a normal, healthy, transparent process and it happens in any country, when former prime ministers, presidents are asked for an advice.

He said that recent reshuffles were part of a routine, normal, working process.

Theyve done their job and time has come to move them to other positions, Garibashvili said. I am really surprised why it caused so many questions.

He also denied having intention to change any of the cabinet member.

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PM Denies Ridiculous Speculation on Cabinet Reshuffle

Saudi Arabias King Abdullah cleaned house Monday with the most sweeping cabinet shakeup in years. In many countries, changing faces of the political inner sanctum is simply a sign of careers on the upswing or in decline. In places such as Saudi Arabia, however, its a rare opportunity to peer if only just a little inside the priorities of a monarchy that holds its secrets tightly.

The first takeaway is that the cabinet reshuffle does not signal any deep alarm even as oil prices drop and Saudi authorities fear increasing threats from the Islamic State and other groups angered byRiyadhs close ties to Washington. Key ministries such as oil, interior and defense were left unchanged.

That doesnt mean the cabinet decrees, announced by the state-run Saudi Press Agency, are without importance.

They signal another step to open more political space for a younger generation, who have been waiting in the wings for decades as the 90-year-old Abdullah and the array of brothers and half-brothers many now in their 80s maintain their hold over the kingdoms affairs.

Ministries such as culture, telecommunications, transportation, agriculture and others were put in relatively younger hands apparently in response to demands to widen the political decision-making following the Arab Spring uprisings across the region.

But perhaps the move that offers the greatest insight was Abdullahs decision to dump the longtime minister of Islamic affairs in favor of an academic and Islamic scholar named Suleiman Aba al-Khail, a former president of one of Saudi Arabias largest public universities, the Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University.

The switch appears to reflect Abdullahs frustration that the nations ultraconservative religious establishment is not doing enough to publicly denounce Islamist extremism.

But nothing involving Islamic affairs is easy in the country with the faiths most holy sites. The hierarchy of Islamic clerics holds enormous influence. It gives the monarchy legitimacy to rule while also serving asguardians ofSaudi Arabias strict brand of Islam known as Wahhabism, which enforces increasingly unpopular tenets such as banning women from driving.

Abdullah and other Saudi leaders, meanwhile, seek to apply more pressure on clerics to use Friday sermons and other outreach to oppose militancy. The worries have been amplified by Saudi support for the U.S.-led coalition battling the Islamic State. A deadly attack last month on Saudi Arabia's Shiite minorityhas been blamedon an al-Qaeda-linked network.

Its not certain how much the new Islamic affairs minister can set the agenda for the countrys powerful Islamic clerics, who are not accustomed to being muscled. Aba al-Khail, however, could assume a more international role as a Saudi envoy.

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WorldViews: The king and the cabinet: Saudi political reshuffle explained

Premier Colin Barnett has confirmed Finance Minister Dean Nalder will remain on the front bench despite conflict of interest claims against him.

Mr Nalder came under fire in recent days for both his failure to disclose an investment in the company Metier Asia and conflict of interest claims related to a car leasing company in which he has an interest.

He has also been questioned over a meeting with the Chinese consul-general in Perth, which was attended by the chief executive of Metier Asia, Darryll Ashworth.

Mr Barnett is due to announce a minor Cabinet reshuffle and a replacement for outgoing Sports Minister Terry Waldron.

While he has not disclosed many details of the changes, Mr Barnett has confirmed there will only be one incoming minister, meaning Mr Nalder will stay in Cabinet.

It is not known if Mr Nalder will retain the finance portfolio.

Mr Barnett said he had carefully examined Mr Nalder's assets and investments.

"He was a prominent and successful business person so he brings that with him," he said.

"But he has not sought to get personal gain from his position as a minister.

"[Regarding] some of the attempts to draw his involvement into companies owned by relatives, I mean that is not a conflict of interest, that is beyond any definition of conflict of interest."

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Barnett confirms Nalder will remain in Cabinet despite conflict of interest claims

Premier Colin Barnett and Tuck Waldren with the first concrete pile to be driven in the new sports stadium. Picture: Steve Ferrier/The West Austrlian

Beleaguered Minister Dean Nalder looks set to remain in Cabinet after Premier Colin Barnett this afternoon revealed a reshuffle of the ministry would include no new Liberals.

Mr Barnett made the remark at the final press conference of Sports Minister Terry Waldron, whose retirement from Cabinet is triggering the reshuffle.

The pair kicked off the construction phase of the Burswood stadium by driving into prepared earth the first of 2000 piles which will support the 60,000 structure.

There was speculation Mr Barnett would dump Mr Nalder from the ministry after a torrid week in which the Premier admitted the rookie Transport and Finance Minister had mixed up his ministerial role with his business interests.

But Mr Barnett revealed the only new face in the Cabinet would be Mr Waldrons replacement widely expected to be Nationals MLC Colin Holt.

Ive kept (the reshuffle) to a minimum but nevertheless you do get a ripple effect when a minister leaves so it does affect a number of ministers, he said.

Mr Barnett shrugged off claims by shadow transport minister Ken Travers earlier today that only an ejection from Cabinet would be an acceptable punishment for Mr Nalder.

Mr Nalder has been under the spotlight amid revelations he was the part owner of a car-leasing company targeting public servants through salary sacrificing deals while overseeing the State fleet as Finance Minister.

His acquisition of a $400,000 stake in a property company Metier Asia Pty Ltd and abandoned plans in July to travel to China with a co-investing ministerial staffer to observe some of its activities has also not gone down well among Liberals.

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Work begins at new stadium

DETROIT -- Takata, the embattled Japanese auto supplier at the center of an expanding air bag recall, has hired three former U.S. Transportation Secretaries to advise it on how to manage the crisis, but it is not agreeing to expand the recall nationwide.

The former cabinet officials are Sam Skinner, who led the Transportation Department under President George H.W. Bush; Rodney Slater, who held the post under President Bill Clinton; and Norman Mineta, who served in the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations.

The Transportation Department oversees the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is seeking to expand the air bag recall from Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to the entire nation for driver's side bags.

Honda has voluntarily expanded its recall to include Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

"We recognize that NHTSA has urged Takata and our customers to support expansions of the current regional campaigns in the United States," Takata Chairman and CEO Shigehisa Takada said, without saying the company would comply.

Skinner will lead a quality assurance panel that will examine how Takata can make air bags and inflators so they don't rupture. At least four people have died and many others have been injured by air bag inflators that have ruptured, causing the bags to deploy with excessive force.

Slater and Mineta will provide counsel so Takata's "responses are decisive and appropriate as we work to regain the public's trust," according to a company statement.

"Takata deeply regrets the injuries and fatalities that have occurred in accidents involving ruptured airbag inflators," Takada said in that statement.

The inflators have ruptured, most often in locations with very humid climates, spraying shrapnel throughout the vehicle. Ten automakers have recalled 7.8 million vehicles in the U.S. to replace inflators on both driver's side and passenger's side air bags.

Last month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration called for the recall of Takata's driver's side air bag inflators to be expanded nationwide after a recent incident in North Carolina, which is outside the high-humidity region of the initial recall. Other incidents have been reported in Arizona, California and Minnesota.

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Takata taps former cabinet officials for crisis advice

New Delhi: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma will arrive here on Saturday to attend a meeting convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that will attempt to seek views on the structure and functioning of the revamped Planning Commission.

The meeting has been convened at the official residence of the Prime Minister.

Modi in his first Independence Day speech on August 15 last had announced that the 64-year-old Planning Commission would be abolished and replaced with a more relevant institution.

The meeting will obtain opinions about the new body that would be formed after abolishing the existing Planning Commission.

The Government has decided to replace the Planning Commission through a new resolution in the Union Cabinet, Union Minister for Planning, Rao Inderjit Singh said on Friday in reply to a query from Shillong Lok Sabha member Vincent H Pala.

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CM to attend meet to discuss replacement for Planning Commission

The Tasmanian Government has been questioned about how it will meet the cost of replacing the two Spirit of Tasmania ferries.

The Government has announced the TT-Line will spend tens of millions of dollars refurbishing the existing vessels and plans to reduce fares.

Fares on the state-owned ferries will be cut as part of an effort to grow the state's tourism industry.

On Monday, cabinet signed off on plans to reduce fares on the Bass Strait passenger ferries by almost 15 per cent over four years.

The Tasmanian Government hoped the plan would attract an extra 64,000 passengers and inject $220 million a year by 2023.

There will be 42 extra day sailings by 2018 and and the two ships on the run between Devonport and Melbourne will be refurbished by late next year.

The exact cost of the upgrade has not been revealed, but Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding said in a statement it would be in the tens of millions of dollars.

It will include refurbishment of the dining and bar areas, new seating, upgrades in cabins and wi-fi and internet streaming access.

The Government still intends to meet a commitment by the previous government to replace the ships by 2023.

Greens MP Nick McKim has used a parliamentary hearing to question where the money will come from.

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Spirit of Tasmania ferry replacement plan questioned as fare cuts flagged