Does Zim need such a big cabinet?

The gigantic Zimbabwean cabinet qualifies as a product of "politics of patronage" or a craft of "cronyism" while to a greater extent it can be equated to "nepotism". This is what characterises African politics anyway.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with that if the economic base can support, that but not in Zimbabwe at the moment - a 61-member cabinet is not sustainable at all, especially considering the exorbitant and exaggerated perks that go with being a minister in Zimbabwe. The frugal regime led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is not even talking about that as a starting point of saving the nation's scarce resources.