Owen Mudha Ncube is a Zimbabwean politician and former CIO Director. He is serving as the country's Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs from 11 September 2023.[1]

Owen Ncube
Minister of Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution
In office
11 September 2023 – present
PresidentEmmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa
Ministerhimself
Vice PresidentConstantino Chiwenga
Kembo Mohadi
Member of Parliament of Gokwe-Kana Constituency
In office
2013–present
Director of Central Intelligence Organization
In office
not known – 2017
Minister of State Security
In office
2017–2022[2]
Personal details
Born
Owen Ncube

(1968-04-17) 17 April 1968 (age 56)
Kwekwe, Zimbabwe
Political partyZANU–PF (1981–present)
Spousenot known
Childrennot known
Education
  • Diploma in Public Relations
  • Diploma in English

Timeline

Prior to his appointment to the role of minister of state for national security, Ncube was named the minister of state for Midlands Province upon President Emmerson Mnangagwa's ascension to power in 2017.[3] Prior to his appointment to Zimbabwe's cabinet, Ncube served as Midland's provincial ZANU–PF youth league secretary for administration.[4]

Under Ncube's leadership as national security minister, a crackdown was ordered against demonstrators who were protesting a 150 percent fuel hike in January 2019.[5] Twelve people were killed during the protests.[6] News reports documented at least sixty other people who were shot during the protests, tear gas was used by police against demonstrators and 600 people were arrested.[7] An internet blackout was ordered by Ncube as the police and armed forces responded to the demonstrations, a decision that was later ruled to be an over-extension of power by a High Court judge.[8]

Following the protests, Ncube was placed on a list of people banned from entry into the United States.[9] He was also sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department.[10] A sanctioned individual has their American assets frozen and firms that operate in the United States, or make payment in U.S. dollars, can not easily financially interact with people on the sanctioned list.[11] On 1 February 2021, the United Kingdom imposed a travel ban and freezing of assets on Ncube, Isaac Moyo, Godwin Matanga, and Anselem Sanyatwe.[12]

On 10 January 2022, President Mnangagwa dismissed Ncube as Minister of State for National Security. In a statement, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Misheck Sibanda, said Ncube had been removed for “conduct inappropriate for a Minister of Government”[13][14]

In September 2023, he returned to the government as Midlands Provincial Affairs minister in the Third Cabinet of Emmerson Mnangagwa.[15]

References

  1. ^ "Who is Who". Parliament of Zimbabwe. Government of Zimbabwe. Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  2. ^ Machivenyika, F. "Ncube appointed State Security Minister". The Herald. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Zimbabwe: Mnangagwa's First Team". Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series. 54 (12): 21675C–21677A. 2018. doi:10.1111/j.1467-825X.2018.08014.x.
  4. ^ Chuma, Wallace; Msimanga, Mbongeni J.; Tshuma, Lungile A. (19 March 2020). "Succession Politics and Factional Journalism in Zimbabwe: A Case of The Chronicle in Zimbabwe". African Journalism Studies. 41: 35–48. doi:10.1080/23743670.2020.1731564. S2CID 216208580.
  5. ^ Marima, T. (15 January 2019). "Zimbabwe soldiers patrol streets after deadly protests". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  6. ^ Chibamu, Anna (19 January 2019). "Zimbabwe: Zim NGOs Claim 12 Dead During Army Clampdown On Protesters". allAfrica.com.
  7. ^ Mutsaka, F. (16 January 2019). "Zimbabwe police arrest 600 in harsh crackdown on protests". AP News. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Zimbabwe protests: Court rules against internet shutdown". The South African. AFP. 22 January 2019.
  9. ^ "US sanctions Zimbabwe's Owen Ncube over protest crackdown". www.aljazeera.com. 26 October 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  10. ^ Treasury sanctions two individuals for human rights abuse in Zimbabwe
  11. ^ "Donald Trump has shown a surprising enthusiasm for sanctions". The Economist. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  12. ^ "UK announces sanctions against Zimbabwe security chiefs". UK Government. 1 February 2021.
  13. ^ "Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa fires state security minister". timeslive.co.za. 11 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  14. ^ "Owen Ncube sacked as state security minister over Zanu PF 'destabilisation'". Zimbabwe News Now. 10 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  15. ^ Mandivengerei, Paidashe (11 September 2023). "Fired State Security Minister Ncube bounces back as top bureaucrat; spy ministry scrapped". NewZimbabwe.com. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
Categories