The government of Zimbabwe Rhodesia took office on 1 June 1979 under the terms of the Internal Settlement negotiated between the government of Rhodesia and moderate African nationalists. It ruled the internationally unrecognized country until, under the terms of the Lancaster House Agreement, control was turned over to Lord Soames as the Governor of Southern Rhodesia on 12 December 1979.
The government attempted to include all parties represented in the House of Assembly following the general election, although the Zimbabwe African National Union of Rev Ndabaningi Sithole initially refused to take up their seats.
| Portfolio | Minister | Term | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Minister Minister of Combined Operations Minister of Defence | Abel Muzorewa | 1 June 1979 – 12 December 1979 | ||
| Deputy Prime Minister Information, Immigration and Tourism Acting Minister of Health | Silas Mundawarara | 1 June 1979 – 12 December 1979 1 June 1979 – 12 December 1979 1 June 1979 – 15 August 1979 | ||
| Office | Minister | Since | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minister of Justice | Jonas Christian Andersen | 1 June 1979 | RF |
| Minister of Water Development | Zephaniah Bafanah | 1 June 1979 | UNFP |
| Minister of Commerce and Industry | Ernest Leonard Bulle | 1 June 1979 | UANC |
| Minister of Agriculture | William Michie Irvine | 1 June 1979 | RF |
| Minister of Education | Edward Stewart Mazaiwana | 1 June 1979 | UANC |
| Minister of Local Government and Housing | Walter Mthinkhulu | 1 June 1979 | UANC |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | David Charles Zvinaiye Mukome | 1 June 1979 | UANC |
| Minister of Manpower, Social Affairs, Youth and Rehabilitation | Senator Aaron Benjamin Mutiti | 1 June 1979 | UANC |
| Minister of Mines | Senator Chief Kayisa Ndiweni | 1 June 1979 | UNFP |
| Minister of Works | |||
| Minister of Health | Silas Mundawarara (acting) | 1 June 1979 | UANC |
| David Zamchiya | 15 August 1979 | ZANU | |
| Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Rural Development | George Bodzo Nyandoro | 1 June 1979 | UANC |
| Minister of Finance | David Colville Smith | 1 June 1979 | RF |
| Minister of Roads and Road Traffic | Jonas Christian Andersen (acting) | 1 June 1979 | RF |
| Leonard Nyemba | 15 August 1979 | ZANU | |
| Minister without Portfolio | Ian Douglas Smith | 1 June 1979 | RF |
| Minister of Transport and Power | Pieter Kenyon Fleming-Voltelyn van der Byl | 1 June 1979 | RF |
| Minister of Posts | |||
| Minister of Home Affairs | Herbert Office Benjamin Zimuto | 1 June 1979 | UANC |
| Minister of Law and Order | Francis John Zindoga | 1 June 1979 | UANC |
| Minister of Public Service |
| Office | Minister | Since | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deputy Minister of Information, Immigration and Tourism | Ismail Adam | 1 June 1979 – 30 September 1979 | Independent |
| Deputy Minister of Home Affairs | Joshua Buwell Cohen | 1 June 1979 – 30 September 1979 | Independent |
| Deputy Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Rural Development | Rowan Cronjé | 1 June 1979 | RF |
| Deputy Minister of Agriculture | Dennis Nyamuswa (acting) | 1 June 1979 | UANC |
| Ephraim Tsvaringe | 15 August 1979 | ZANU | |
| Deputy Minister of Education | Peter Mandaza | 1 June 1979 | UNFP |
| Deputy Minister of Manpower, Social Affairs, Youth and Rehabilitation | David Murambiwa Mutasa | 1 June 1979 | UANC |
| Deputy Minister of Finance | Dennis Nyamuswa | 1 June 1979 | UANC |
| Deputy Minister of Mines | Denis Walker | 1 June 1979 | RF |
| Deputy Minister of Works |