ENVIRONMENT, Water and Climate minister Saviour Kasukuwere believes his reassignment away from the powerful Indigenisation portfolio did not amount to a demotion.
Wisdom Mdzungairi Assistant Editor
Kasukuwere opened up yesterday amid reports of wild celebrations last week at the National Indigenisation Economic Empowerment Board by employees who did not like his leadership style.But the minister who swopped roles with former Environment minister Francis Nhema in President Robert Mugabe’s Cabinet reshuffle said those celebrating were missing the point.
“I have been assigned before into other responsibilities and for one to look at this issue from a blurred vision . . . it’s wrong to say the least,” Kasukuwere said.
‘The leadership of this country from time to time decides what, when and who to assign at any time depending on their expertise.
“If anything, I was reassigned to deal with matters where our population have huge expectations. The environment provides all of us with life.” He said he was still at home tackling climate change as much as he did when spearheading Zanu PF’s empowerment policy.
“We breathe within an environment. Climate change affects all our economic activities,” he said. “Climate change is very important to look at given droughts, the changing weather patterns. Careless management of our environment will take a toll on our economy. I am now minister of life.”
Kasukuwere, who at the weekend toured Hwange National Park where 42 elephants were poisoned by poachers, said he was shocked by the levels of poaching in the countryside.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“Poaching levels are disturbing. It’s about individuals trying to make money out of a national resource,” he said. “In Hwange there is a huge disaster. We must all fight with a goal of supporting government efforts to eradicate poaching.
“We have to carry out programmes that will save our animals. We would want to see communities defending their turf and their animals. “We will improve our intelligence to unmask the mafia behind these poaching rings.”
Kasukuwere said he had seen first-hand the effects of climate change in Hwange as hundreds of wild animals were dying due to shortage of water.
