HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa has retired Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) commander Lieutenant General (Rtd) Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe and appointed him the new Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture.
Sanyatwe replaces Kirsty Coventry who made history last week after being elected the first woman president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Her new role has resulted in her departure from the Zimbabwean cabinet, as announced by Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Martin Rushwaya. He has already indicated that she would be moving to Greece for IOC duty.
Accordingly, Mnangagwa has appointed Sanyatwe as the new Minister of Sport.
The appointment follows Mnangagwa’s decision to retire Sanyatwe from the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and his position as Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army, something other commentators believe is linked to factional politics within the ruling Zanu PF party.
“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.
“And: 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,” Rushwaya stated.
Coventry’s election to the IOC presidency marks a significant milestone, as she becomes the first woman, the first African, and the youngest person to hold the position.
