HARARE – Lieutenant General Anselem Sanyatwe, who commanded soldiers that killed six people and left 36 others with gunshot wounds in a 2018 post-election crackdown has been named as commander of the Zimbabwe National Army by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Sanyatwe headed the Presidential Guard before he was retired to the diplomatic service in 2019. He was recalled as ambassador to Tanzania late last month ahead of his appointment.
He replaces Lieutenant General David Sigauke as part of civil service reforms fixing the age of retirement at 60 for those who joined after May 1, 1992, and 65 for those recruited earlier and war veterans. Sigauke was in the latter group.
A further shake-up is expected in the military with Air Force commander Air Marshal Elson Moyo also expected to be shortly retired.
In a statement on Friday, the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Martin Rushwaya said Sanyatwe’s appointment is “with immediate effect.”
Sanyatwe, then commanding the Presidential Guard, took part in a 2017 military coup that ousted Robert Mugabe from power, ending his 37-year rule.
In August 2018, the Presidential Guard was deployed in central Harare to put down post-election protests. The soldiers shot and killed six innocent civilians on the day, and wounded dozens more.
Under pressure over the killings, Mnangagwa appointed a commission of inquiry chaired by former South African president Kgalema Motlanthe.
Sanyatwe testified at the inquiry and incredibly denied his soldiers had caried out the killings.
In its report, the commission called for the prosecution of the soldiers involved in the killings and compensation for victims. The recommendations have not been implemented to date.
Sanyatwe was promoted and then retired into the diplomatic service in February 2019. He was posted to Tanzania.
