HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Thursday appointed Major General Emmanuel Matatu as the new commander of the Zimbabwe National Army.
The appointment was announced as Lieutenant General Anselem Sanyatwe, who was removed from the position on Tuesday in a surprise development, was sworn-in as sports minister.
Matatu is a ZPRA veteran who was brigadier general for nearly two decades before his promotion to major general in 2021.
At 72-years-old, past retirement age, Matatu is not seen as a longterm appointment. Instead, his promotion is seen as a strategic move by Mnangagwa amid growing fears of a possible coup by his former allies.
Mnangagwa has put security services on high alert to thwart planned anti-government strikes on March 31, and Matatu could play a major role should the military be called in to break up protests. Ironically, Sanyatwe – then in charge of the Presidential Guard – commanded a unit deployed to quell post-election protests in 2018 resulting in the deaths of at least six people.
Sanyatwe, 68, took his oath of office as sports minister in front of Mnangagwa and vice presidents Kembo Mohadi and Constantino Chiwenga at State House.
He replaces Kirsty Coventry, who is taking up her new role as International Olympic Committee president.
