Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has maintained that the Cabinet remains accountable for government business even when a ministerial portfolio is vacant. The vacancy at the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy has since been filled through the appointment of a new minister.

He was responding to a question from IPC MP Ferdinand Hengombe on the constitutional authority for the President to dismiss a minister and temporarily take over the portfolio without appointing a replacement. 

Dr. Ngurare referred to Articles 27, 35 and 41 of the Constitution, which outline the President's executive authority, the Cabinet's responsibility for government administration and its accountability to the National Assembly.

He explained that Cabinet members are individually accountable for their responsibilities and collectively answerable for the performance of government. He maintained that accountability does not depend on a particular minister continuously occupying a portfolio.

"Article 41 provides that members of Cabinet are accountable both individually and collectively to the National Assembly for the exercise of their powers and the performance of their functions. This means that accountability operates on more than one level."