Lovemore Matuke
| Lovemore Matuke | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | February 6, 1963 Gutu |
Lovemore Matuke was in 2020 Zanu PF Senator for Harare East. He is also the Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. In December 2017 Matuke was appointed as the Secretary for National Security in Zanu PF. Before becoming a senator for Harare East, he was Gutu Central MP.
The Zanu PF politburo endorsed Lovemore Matuke as the party’s parliamentary chief whip taking over from Jorum Gumbo, who was appointed Transport Minister in 2015. Matuke was also chairman of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Energy, Mines and Power Development. The announcement was reportedly made by Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa at one of Zanu PF's politburo meeting following a party legislators’ caucus meeting at the Zanu PF headquarters.
Personal Details
No information was found on his age, place of birth, or family.
School / Education
Tertiary: Honours Degree in Development Studies from Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU).
Service/Career
In the 2013 Elections, (see A History of Zimbabwean Elections) Gutu Central returned to Parliament:
- Lovemore Matuke of Zanu PF with 9 311 votes or 69.25 percent,
- Kenneth Nhemachena of MDC–T with 3 248 votes or 24.16 percent,
- Daniel Nenji Jinga of MDC–N with 886 votes or 6.59 percent.
Total 13 445 votes
Following the 23-24 August 2023 elections, President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced his new cabinet on 11 September 2023. The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), was Lovemore Matuke. [1]
Events
2013 Suspension
In 2013, Matuke was suspended as Zanu PF Masvingo provincial chairman for endorsing Bikita West MP Munyaradzi Kereke’s nomination papers ahead of the ruling party’s preferred candidate Elias Musakwa. He was suspended together with the then party provincial secretary for administration Edmund Mhere.
Matuke, seen as loyalist of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, later bounced back into the party after the expulsion of former Vice-President Joice Mujuru and over 100 members of her faction.
Frustrating the elevation of Paul Chimedza
Chimedza was appointed as the provincial affairs Minister for Masvingo province after the death of Shuvai Mahofa, Matuke was accused of blocking this elevation based on allegations that Matuke's links to the lacoste faction did not accept the elevation of a person aligned to the G40 faction.
Bleak political future after Mnangagwa's expulsion from Zanu PF
The Zanu PF Masvingo provincial leadership in Masvingo and the provincial coordinating committee resolved that Matuke be dismissed from the party on allegations of undermining the authority of the President and insulting his wife Grace Mugabe.
Nomination Court 2023
The ZEC list of candidates for the August 2023 elections for Masvingo Province have been released. [2]
References
- ↑ President Mnangagwa Has Announced The New Cabinet, Pindula, Published: 11 September 2023, Retrieved: 12 September 2023
- ↑ [Government Gazette Extraordinary, Vol. CI, No. 64 30th June, 2023], Government Gazette Extraordinary Vol. CI, No. 64 30th June, 2023, Published: 30 June 2023, Retrieved: 30 June 2023
