Harare – Retired Lieutenant General, Anselem Sanyatwe on Thursday took oath of office as the new Zimbabwe’s Minister of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture at State House in Harare.
Lt. General Sanyatwe who was retired this week as the commander of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) was sworn-in by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Present were Mnangagwa’s two vice presidents, General (rtd) Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi.
Sanyatwe’s wife Chido, the deputy minister of Home Affairs and their children witnessed the swearing-in ceremony.
Sanyatwe replaces Kirsty Coventry, the president elect of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The surprise move by Mnangagwa to retire Sanyatwe has been described by analysts as a move to weaken Chiwenga’s faction in the ZANU PF succession fights.
Sanyatwe is a close ally of Chiwenga in ZANU PF factional fights.
Chiwenga supporters want him to succeed Mnangagwa and are against Mnangagwa’s faction manouevres to extend his term to 2030 from 2028.