HARARE, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Monday made changes to his cabinet and removed his deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa from the Justice Ministry while reassigning Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa to the newly created Ministry of Cyber Security, Threat Detection and Mitigation.
Mnangagwa was doubling up as Mugabe's deputy in the ruling ZANU-PF party and government as well as Justice Minister.
Former Home Affairs Minister Ignatius Chombo takes up the finance portfolio while Central Intelligence Organization chief Happyton Bonyongwe was appointed Justice Minister.
Former Macro-economic Planning Minister Obert Mpofu becomes the new Home Affairs Minister while Mugabe's nephew, Patrick Zhuwao, previously Youth and Indigenization Minister, becomes the new Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare Minister.
Former Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi was reassigned to Foreign Affairs Ministry while Simbarashe Mumbengegwi who occupied the ministry, was moved to Macro-economic Planning and Investment Promotion Ministry.
Mugabe appointed ZANU-PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo the new Information Minister and retained Saviour Kasukuwere in the expanded Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and National Housing.
Mugabe upgraded former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgar Mbwembwe to Tourism Minister and replaced War Veterans Minister Tshinga Dube with Matabeleland North Governor Cain Mathema.
Mugabe also made new appointments for the governors of Matabeleland North, Masvingo and Mashonaland West provinces.
The cabinet reshuffle comes ahead of polls in 2018 in which Mugabe will seek re-election. Mugabe last made a cabinet reshuffle in 2015.
