Priscah Mupfumira
{{Short description|Zimbabwean politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Prisca Mupfumira
| image = Prisca Mupfumira - 2018 (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Mupfumira in 2018
| office = Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry
| term_start = December 2017
| term_end = August 2019
| president = Emmerson Mnangagwa
| predecessor = Office established
| successor = Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu
| office1 = Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare of Zimbabwe
| term_start1 = 2014
| term_end1 = 9 October 2017
| president1 = Robert Mugabe
| predecessor1 = Nicholas Goche
| successor1 = Patrick Zhuwao
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| occupation = politician and minister
| party = ZANU–PF
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Prisca Mupfumira, or Priscah Mupfumira, is a Zimbabwean politician and former government minister under President Robert Mugabe. When the President was replaced by Emmerson Mnangagwa, she was the first serving ZANU–PF minister to be arrested for corruption.
Life
In 2013, Anna Simbanegavi, Fortune Charumbira and Mupfumira were promoted to the "Standing Orders and Rules Committee" (SORC).{{Cite web|url=https://www.theindependent.co.zw/2013/10/16/mudenda-causes-storm-parly/|title=Mudenda causes storm in parly|last=theindependent1|date=2013-10-16|website=The Zimbabwe Independent|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-12}}
In 2014, Mupfumira became the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Services. She was appointed by Mugabe to replace Nicholas Goche, who had been accused of trying to kill the President as part of a coup.{{Cite web|url=https://www.herald.co.zw/president-unveils-new-ministers/|title=President unveils new ministers|last=Herald|first=The|website=The Herald|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-02-12}}
President Robert Mugabe reshuffled his cabinet in early July 2017, pointedly not including his wife. The Minister of Information, Jonathan Moyo, was moved to another ministry. He was not replaced, but Mupfumira was made responsible, even though she was still at the Ministry of Labor.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jeuneafrique.com/244617/politique/zimbabwe-robert-mugabe-remanie-gouvernement-ny-rentrer-femme-grace/|title=Zimbabwe : Robert Mugabe remanie son gouvernement et n'y fait pas rentrer sa femme, Grace – Jeune Afrique|date=2015-07-08|website=JeuneAfrique.com|language=fr-FR|access-date=2020-02-12}} Also, in July 2015, an American trophy hunter killed "Cecil the Lion" in Zimbanbwe using a bow and arrow. The event was said to be legal and became of interest to animal rights around the internet creating a global news story.{{Cite news|last1=Capecchi|first1=Christina|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/30/us/cecil-the-lion-walter-palmer.html|title=Killer of Cecil the Lion Finds Out That He Is a Target Now, of Internet Vigilantism|date=2015-07-29|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-02-12|last2=Rogers|first2=Katie|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} Mupfumira, when questioned about Cecil's killing, asked, "What lion?"{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-zimbabwe-wildlife-lion-idUSKCN0Q41VB20150730|title='What lion?' Zimbabweans ask, amid global Cecil circus|date=2015-07-30|work=Reuters|access-date=2020-02-12|language=en}}
On 9 October 2017, Patrick Zhuwao was appointed Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare of Zimbabwe.{{Cite news|url=https://iharare.com/zhuwao-arrested-by-army/|title=LATEST: Mugabe's nephew Zhuwao 'arrested & detained' by army|date=2017-11-14|work=iHarare|access-date=2017-11-24}} He announced on 10 November that government employees would be receiving bonuses.{{Cite news|url=http://www.newsdzezimbabwe.co.uk/2017/11/zhuwao-civil-servants-to-get-bonuses.html|title=Zhuwao : Civil Servants To Get Bonuses|date=2017-11-11|work=NewsdzeZimbabwe|access-date=2017-11-24}} By the end of November 2017, Robert Mugabe had been swept aside and the new President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced his cabinet. He rewarded some leading soldiers who had assisted his move to power, but he did not sweep away Mugabe's former team. Mupfumira was part of the 22 minister cabinet and was named the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry.{{Cite web|url=https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/mnangagwa-appoints-military-commanders-in-recycled-cabinet/4144702.html|title=Mnangagwa Appoints Coup Plotters to Key Ministries in Recycled Mugabe Cabinet|website=VOA|date=December 2017 |language=en|access-date=2020-02-13}} After the 2018 parliamentary elections, Mupfumira was returned to cabinet, in the role of Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry.{{Cite web|url=https://www.iol.co.za/business-report/economy/state-jobs-on-the-line-in-zimbabwe-2066346|title=State jobs on the line in Zimbabwe? {{!}} IOL Business Report|website=www.iol.co.za|language=en|access-date=2020-02-13}}
In July 2019, she was arrested in connection with $94 million that was missing from a pension fund.{{cite news |last1=Madzianike |first1=Nyore |title=Zimbabwe: Fraud, Money Laundering Charges for Mupfumira |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201908060126.html |accessdate=13 February 2020 |agency=All Africa |publisher=The Herald |date=6 August 2019}} She was the first ZANU–PF minister to be arrested by the new President Emmerson Mnangagwa.{{cite news |last1=Nyathi |first1=Kitsepile |title=Zimbabwe anti-graft authority arrests Tourism minister Mupfumira |url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/africa/Zimbabwe-anti-graft-authority-arrests-minister/4552902-5210164-oh2r57z/index.html |accessdate=13 February 2020 |agency=The East African |date=25 July 2019}} She did not lose her place in the cabinet for two weeks.{{cite web |last1=Mhetu |first1=Idah |title=Zimbabwe: Mnangagwa Fires Mupfumira |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201908090056.html |website=All Africa |publisher=New Zimbabwean |accessdate=13 February 2020}} She spent two months in jail before she was released on bail in September 2019. Meanwhile, a former vice-president, Phelekezela Mphoko, was also arrested for alleged corruption.{{Cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/Africa/News/zimbabwe-ex-tourism-minister-facing-graft-charges-freed-on-bail-20190927|title=Zimbabwe ex-tourism minister facing graft charges freed on bail|date=2019-09-28|website=News24|language=en|access-date=2020-02-12}}
In February 2020, she and Ngoni Masoka, the ex-permanent secretary in the Ministry of Public Service and Social Welfare, were appealing decisions in the Zimbabwean courts related to the charges against them.{{Cite web|url=https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/just-in-mupfumira-contests-magistrates-decision/|title=JUST IN: Mupfumira contests magistrate's decision|date=2020-02-07|website=Zimbabwe Situation|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-12}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Mnangagwa cabinet}}
{{Members of the 8th Parliament of Zimbabwe}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mupfumira, Prisca}}
Category:Government ministers of Zimbabwe
Category:21st-century Zimbabwean women politicians