PERHAPS the most appropriate description of the latest Cabinet is that it is a ‘diverse, dynamic and youthful’ team.
Throughout the days leading to the announcement of the Cabinet, people from all walks of life had expressed their expectations.
And the final result confirmed that President Mnangagwa is indeed a listening leader, a quality he never tires of pointing out when describing himself.
For a start, the Cabinet was trimmed from 23 to 20.
Advocates of gender equality were placated when six women Cabinet ministers were included, up from four.
Moreover, some of the ministries they are in charge of are those perceived to be big.
Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri’s Defence and War Veterans Ministry had always been considered to be ‘too tough’ for a woman to handle.
It is no more.
Much to people’s expectations, it is a youthful Cabinet, with Kirsty Coventry still in her 30s.
Resilient warhorses, like Muchinguri-Kashiri, Sithembiso Nyoni, Cain Mathema and Joram Gumbo, who served in former President Robert Mugabe’s Cabinet, add diversity to the dream team.
The desire to see the inclusion of technocrats was also answered.
Obediah Moyo, Mthuli Ncube, Coventry and Winston Chitando are well-respected technocrats in their areas of competence.
Amon Murwira and July Moyo, who demonstrated their capabilities in the outgoing Cabinet, have been included among the five appointees who do not have seats in Parliament.
Minority groups have not been left in limbo either.
Coventry finds herself with Vangelis Haritatos and Rajeshakumart Modi in the new Government setup.
What remains to be seen is what this promising Cabinet can deliver.
High among people’s expectations is the ending of cash shortages and the phasing out of Bond notes.
People are also afraid a mourning MDC Alliance might like to disturb the peace through violent demonstrations in order for the international community to delegitimise the President Mnangagwa-led Government.
They have done it before.
But we suppose our security ministries are aware that the overriding function of a state is the maintenance of law and order.
Our health delivery system needs an overhaul.
The immediate availability of drugs at reasonable prices and the transformation of hospitals into more comfortable sanctuaries for patients will be welcome.
The creation of jobs is a huge factor in determining the success, or otherwise, of this new team.
People are expecting to see the resuscitation of old industries and the opening of new ones with the jobs this entails.
No more potholes on our roads please, is a national plea.
The list is long.
However, the team must work, fully aware that there are some people, including black Zimbabweans, who are praying for the country to fail.
We should not forget that in Nelson Chamisa we have a leader whose party won 570 out of about 2 000 council seats, 63 out of 210 parliamentary seats, and with him trailing President Mnangagwa by 300 000 votes.
Yet he is running himself hoarse proclaiming he won the presidential election.
With NGOs unrelenting in their regime change drive, the task ahead is tough.