By Charakupa Chimwanda-President Emmerson Mnangagwa has retired Zimbabwe National Army Commander Lieutenant General Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe and immediately reassigned him as Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts, and Culture.
Sanyatwe, a close ally of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, is seen as a key figure in the ongoing power struggle within ZANU-PF.
War veterans, led by Blessed Geza and reportedly backed by elements within the military, are pushing for Chiwenga to succeed Mnangagwa.
Geza has called for a national shutdown on 31 March in a bid to force Mnangagwa out of office.
Ahead of the protest, Mnangagwa deployed the army and riot police across the country to preemptively crush any demonstrations.
Chief Secretary delivered the announcement of Sanyatwe’s reassignment to the President and Cabinet, Martin Rushwaya, who also confirmed the removal of Kirsty Coventry from the same ministry, citing her election as President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Beneath the official language of the announcement lies a far more strategic maneuver.
Sources close to high-level discussions suggest that Mnangagwa’s real objective is to neutralize perceived threats within the security establishment—particularly officers sympathetic to Chiwenga—as he braces for civil unrest and internal dissent.
Sanyatwe, a key military figure, commanded the army during critical political junctures, including the controversial post-election crackdown of August 2018.
His abrupt removal just days before the planned protest signals growing paranoia within Mnangagwa’s inner circle.
“This is not just about sport or Kirsty’s IOC seat,” a government insider revealed. “Mnangagwa is purging the military of anyone who might hesitate to act if things spiral out of control on March 31.”
While a ministerial position may seem prestigious, it effectively sidelines Sanyatwe from direct control over the army at a moment of escalating political tension.
Notably absent from today’s announcement was the name of Sanyatwe’s replacement, though speculation suggests a trusted Mnangagwa ally from the Forever Associates Zimbabwe (FAZ) network will assume command of the ZNA.
Mnangagwa’s move comes as opposition voices, civil society groups, and disillusioned former war veterans mobilize for what they describe as a “final push” against his presidency.
While the removal of Sanyatwe may provide Mnangagwa with short-term security, it also raises the stakes of an already fragile political climate.
Over the weekend, Mnangagwa convened a high-stakes and closely guarded meeting at his secluded Precabe Farm, bringing together some of Zimbabwe’s most powerful figures, including First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, business magnate Kudakwashe Tagwirei, political strategist Herbert Shimbamhini, and other key advisors.
At the heart of the discussions was a calculated plan to use Coventry’s anticipated election to the IOC presidency as a smokescreen for a sweeping cabinet reshuffle.
The reshuffle is expected to surgically remove individuals within the security sector who are perceived to be loyal to Chiwenga.
Among the primary targets was General Sanyatwe, whose reassignment is viewed as a strategic demotion.
His wife, Chipo Sanyatwe, currently Deputy Minister for Home Affairs, is also expected to be reassigned, weakening the couple’s influence within the government.
To replace Sanyatwe, Mnangagwa’s camp has reportedly settled on Asher Walter Tapfumaneyi, a former top intelligence official with deep ties to Tagwirei and the controversial FAZ organization, which played a critical role in Mnangagwa’selection rigging strategy.
Tapfumaneyi’s anticipated appointment is seen as a decisive move to tighten the president’s grip over the armed forces and further sideline Chiwenga’s influence.
“The Coventry appointment is the perfect cover,” one source familiar with the discussions revealed. “While the world watches her ascend to the IOC, the real action will be happening in Harare, where Mnangagwa is clearing the decks.”