PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed his cousin Martin Rushwaya as the new Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, after sending long-time bureaucrat Misheck Sibanda on retirement.

Rushwaya, who will be turning 62 on December 31, is a veteran bureaucrat, having served as Sibanda’s deputy in the last government.

He had previously served as Midlands prrovincial administrator and Defence permanent secretary.

Mnangagwa has, since his re-election on August 23, been accused of staffing his government with cronies and close family members, among them his son David (Finance deputy minister) and nephew Tongai (Tourism deputy minister).