PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa last night retired Zimbabwe National Army Commander Lieutenant General Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe and appointed him Sports minister.
Sanyatwe takes over the ministry from Kirsty Coventry, who recently won elections to become the 10th International Olympic Committee president.
Sanyatwe's appointment is with immediate effect.
Our sister paper The Standard reported on Sunday on the impending removal of Sanyatwe, who is allegedly linked to a faction led by Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga.
The appointment was announced by the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Martin Rushwaya.
“In terms of section 216(2) (Command of Defence Forces) as read with section 340(1)(f) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe and section 115 (Commander-in- Chief Prerogative) of the Defence Act [Chapter 11:02], the President, in his capacity as such and as Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces has relieved and retired, Lieutenant General Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe, from the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and as Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army with immediate effect,” Rushwaya said.
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“Acting in terms of section 108(1)(a) of the Constitution Of Zimbabwe, His Excellency President Dr E D Mnangagwa has relieved Honourable Kirsty Coventry from her position as Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture following her well-deserved election as the president of the International Olympic Committee."
Political analyst Eldred Masunungure last night expressed shock at Mnangagwa’s decision saying the President could be “protecting himself from a potential coup”.
“It may be a bit unexpected given that the commander of the army was appointed not too long ago. But essentially, I think it's part of the coup-proofing by the President that started sometime in December and accelerated in January,” Masunungure said.
“And in light of the protests or rather the uprising, according to [war veteran Blessed] Geza, it's suspected that some in the command element of the military may be sympathetic to the Geza movement.
“And, therefore, the removal of Sanyatwe is consistent with that kind of thinking and planned to cut, you know, the planned uprising.”
In three months, Mnangagwa has appointed bosses for the police and the President’s Department, commonly known as the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO).
In January, Shepherd Mutamba was appointed police commissioner general to replace Godwin Matanga, who was retired. Former Parks boss Fulton Mangwanya was in the same month appointed CIO boss, replacing Isaac Moyo.
This appointment marks a new chapter for Sanyatwe, who will be transitioning from a military to a civilian role.
Sanyatwe last year, touched off a storm over his remarks that Zanu PF will “rule forever”.
Speaking at a Zanu PF inter-district meeting in Nyanga, Sanyatwe said the ruling party would rule the country for eternity “whether you like it or not”.
“Whatever your stated and expressed wishes, I am now speaking as the commander of the army. We shall use what is called command voting. Do we understand each other? Forward with Zanu PF, forward with PF. Forward with E D Mnangagwa. Down with the enemy,” he said, chanting the party slogan.
