HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa has retired Zimbabwe National Army commander Lieutenant General Sanyatwe to take up newly-elected International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry’s Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture ministry as he continues with his change of guard within the country’s security forces.
Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Martin Rushwaya said Tuesday Coventry has been relieved of her portfolio as she prepares to leave the country to assume the powerful job in world sports.
Rushwaya said the changes were with immediate effect.
Rushwaya said, “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”.
He added, “In terms of section 104 (3) of the Constitution, appoints Lieutenant General (Rtd) Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe as Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture with immediate effect.”
Sanyatwe, also a trusted top soldier under former President Robert Mugabe, was in the news for all the wrong reasons back in August 2018 for presiding over the shooting of protesters and bystanders following disputed elections at the time.
He would later become Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Tanzania before his recall to take up the job of Zimbabwe National Army commander.
