Zimbabwe’s Mines Minister Winston Chitando Sacked By President Mnangagwa
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has fired his Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Winston Chitando. The long-serving minister was replaced with immediate effect by his former deputy, Polite Kambamura.
The dramatic removal was announced by Dr Martin Rushwaya, the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, in an official press statement on the evening of 8 December 2025. The statement cited constitutional powers but gave no specific reason for the sudden dismissal.
The news broke just hours after Chitando had been photographed attending a ministry planning workshop in Masvingo earlier the same day.
A Sudden And Swift Removal
The official announcement of Chitando’s firing was stark and direct. The statement from the Chief Secretary’s office was posted on X by government spokesman Nick Mangwana.
The press statement from Dr Martin Rushwaya read: “His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, has in terms of Section 340, Subsection (1f), as read with Section 108, Subsection (1a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, removed Winston Chitando as Cabinet Minister with immediate effect.”
A separate appointment statement, also signed by Dr Rushwaya, followed swiftly. It confirmed Polite Kambamura’s return to the ministry, this time as its full minister. Kambamura had previously served as Deputy Minister of Mines under Chitando until a 2024 cabinet reshuffle.
A Ministry Under Intense Scrutiny
The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development has been a focal point of Zimbabwe’s economic ambitions, particularly with the global rush for lithium.
It has also been at the centre of numerous allegations regarding corruption and the opaque allocation of mining claims. Journalist Hopewell Chin’ono commented on the dismissal on X, framing it within wider governmental issues.
Hopewell Chin’ono posted: “This dramatic move reflects the escalating turmoil within Mnangagwa’s administration, where corruption scandals, failing projects, and growing factional battles have become impossible to conceal.”
He further commented on the perception of Chitando’s tenure, stating,
“Chitando’s removal is not surprising to many Zimbabweans, who have long viewed his tenure as synonymous with opaque deals, chaotic licensing, and the collapse of public trust in the mining sector, particularly lithium and gold.”
The news was first reported by the online publication ZimLive, which noted Chitando had been engaged in official duties just before his abrupt termination.
Kambamura Steps Into The Hot Seat
Polite Kambamura now assumes control of one of the government’s most critical and contentious portfolios. His appointment notice, formally issued by Dr Martin Rushwaya, places him at the helm with immediate effect. The new minister faces immediate challenges, including restoring investor confidence, managing the lucrative but controversial lithium sector, and addressing long-standing allegations of mismanagement within the ministry.
No statement from either Chitando or Kambamura regarding the change was immediately available.
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The post Mnangagwa Fires Mines Minister Winston Chitando, Replaces Him With Ex-Deputy Polite Kambamura appeared first on iHarare News.
