Mnangagwa appoints ‘homeboy’ Lt General Matatu as the new ZNA commander

HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed Major General Emmanuel Matatu (74) as the new Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), giving credence to speculation the Zanu PF leader is trying to counter a potential military coup.

Matatu who has also been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General replaces Anselem Sanyatwe (69) who was retired on Wednesday and curiously appointed Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture.

Sanyatwe replaced Kirsty Coventry who made history last week after being elected the first woman president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

A statement from the Chief Secretary to the Cabinet and President, Martin Rushwaya, claimed Matatu’s appointment was made in accordance with Section 216(2) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, as read with Section 89, and Sections 11(1)(a) and 11(4) of the Defence Act (Chapter 11:02).

Commentators however believe the reshuffles are linked to factional politics within the ruling Zanu PF party.

Mnangagwa is under fire from a section of the army that is backing his Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and its believed he is responding by purging all those loyal to his deputy.

Prominent journalist Hopewell Chin’ono gave his take on the developments saying Mnangagwa had appointed his “homeboy” as the new commander of the Zimbabwe National Army as a form of “coup-proofing”.

“Mnangagwa has literally removed former ZANLA commanders from the top two key military positions: the army and the commander of defence forces.

“General Matatu, who comes from the Midlands province, was in ZIPRA, working with Mnangagwa’s clansman, General P.V. Sibanda, who is the commander of Zimbabwe’s defence forces, and like Matatu and Mnangagwa, also from the Midlands.

“Th Airforce of Zimbabwe is led by Air Marshal John Jacob Nzvede from Masvingo,” Chin’ono explained.

“My sources also tell me that the current deputy director of the CIO, Asher Walter Tapfumaneyi, is going to Cuba as Zimbabwe’s ambassador, and the current ambassador in Cuba is coming back to take over as deputy director of the CIO—a straight switch.

“More importantly, you should understand why my reference to home areas and liberation movement affiliations is key.

“Vice President General Chiwenga is from ZANLA, as General Sanyatwe is, and they both participated in the Mgagao Declaration that removed Ndabaningi Sithole as leader of ZANU in 1975.

“This declaration was made by ZANLA commanders who were unhappy with Sithole’s leadership and his perceived failure to effectively lead the party in the liberation struggle against the Rhodesian government.

“The ZANUPF chairman, Herbert Chitepo, was killed in Zambia by the ZANLA army on tribal lines that pitted the Karanga against the Manyika according to former Zambian president, Dr Kenneth Kaunda.

“Robert Mugabe was brought in, and his acceptance was forced by the ZANLA military commanders, led by General Solomon Mujuru. Mugabe was also removed by the military.

“If Emmerson Mnangagwa rides the tide, he would be the first ZANU leader to withstand the pressure from ZANLA veterans and the military,” Chin’ono added.