President Emmerson Mnangagwa has removed Lieutenant General Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe as Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) and reassigned him as Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts, and Culture.
The decision comes amid heightened fears of a coup and rising tensions between rival factions within ZANU PF ahead of planned nationwide protests on March 31.
The sports vacancy became available this month after Kirsty Coventry was elected president of the International Olympic Committee.
Sanyatwe’s removal as army chief comes at a time of increased political sparring ahead of general elections set for 2028.
Analysts say Mnangagwa appears to be acting to shield himself from a potential mutiny. A section of cadres of the ruling Zanu-PF party want Constantino Chiwenga, Mnangagwa’s deputy, who removed Robert Mugabe in 2017 to take over as president.
In recent months, Mnangagwa has also shuffled the heads of police and intelligence service.
Africanews/Shakirat Sadiq
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