Zimbabwe's nangagwa gives key cabinet jobs to military figures

         

Critics have said that it has dashed hopes of change in the country.

Mr Mnangagwa was inaugurated as president last week. He takes over from Robert Mugabe who had been in power for 37 years.

Mr Mugabe resigned after the military took control of the country when Mr Mnangagwa was sacked as vice-president.

The appointments led government critic Tendai Biti to suggest that Zimbabweans were "wrong" to have hoped for change.

"Up until now, we had given the putsch the benefit of the doubt. We did so in the genuine, perhaps naive view that the country could actually move forward. We craved change, peace & stability in our country. How wrong we were," he said.

Some had hoped that President Mnangagwa would appoint members of the opposition to his cabinet, to form a transitional government until elections next year but this did not happen.

Newspaper owner Trevor Ncube said the cabinet was "very disappointing".

"Largely the same people that caused this crisis have been recycled. The honeymoon comes to an end and reality dawns. His concern seems to have been rewarding those who brought him to power and Zanu-PF [the ruling party] unity," he said.