Nicholas Tasunungurwa Goche

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development

Date of Birth: 01/08/1946
Place of Birth: Southern Rhodesia

Biography:  Secretary-general, Rhodesian Explosive and Chemical Workers Union, 1968-70; Assistant personnel officer, payroll employees and welfare, Zimbabwe Phosphate Industries Ltd, 1970-74; Personnel officer, ZIMPHOS, 1974-77; Exile, 1977-80; Senior administrative officer, Zimbabwean Embassy, Washington, 1980-83; Under-Secretary, Eastern Europe, Asia and the Pacific, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 1984; Ambassador, Romania and Bulgaria, 1984-87; Ambassador, People's Republic of China, 1987-90; Deputy Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs, Minister of Foreign Affairs, 1990-91; Assistant, Embassy in New York, 1991-92; Deputy Secretary for Production, ZANU-PF Mashonaland Central, 1994; Deputy Minister, Foreign Affairs, 1995-00; Minister of State, National Security, 2000-05; Ministe of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, 2005-08; Minister of Transport, 2008 to date.

Commentary: A long-time Mugabe favourite and a supporter of Emmerson Mnangagwa.  Goche was one of the negotiating team behind the unity government and has helped to maintain Mugabe in power.  As a former head of the Central Intelligence Organisation, while Minister of State for National Security, Goche is still close to the security forces and he also enjoys a special relationship with the First Family.