Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reassigned Lieutenant General Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe, the country’s army chief, to the sports ministry.
The unexpected move, announced Tuesday, follows mounting political tensions as the nation heads toward the 2028 general elections.
Sanyatwe, a former commander of the presidential guard and ambassador to Tanzania, has been relieved of his position as commander of the Zimbabwe National Army.
He will now serve as the minister of sport, recreation, arts, and culture, according to a statement by the president’s office.
The timing of the decision raises questions about its motivations, particularly with growing political infighting.
Sanyatwe, 69, faced US sanctions in 2019 for his role in the violent crackdown on civilians following Zimbabwe’s 2018 elections.
The US lifted the sanctions in 2024, but the UK imposed asset freezes in 2021 due to human rights concerns.
This reshuffle comes as Zimbabwe grapples with an economic crisis linked to government corruption and incompetence.
The country also faces increasing political repression, exemplified by the detention of a journalist who interviewed a veteran politician backing Vice President Constantino Chiwenga for the presidency.
Political analyst Eldred Masunungure suggests that Sanyatwe’s removal could be part of a strategy to prevent a potential military mutiny.
The move aims to safeguard Mnangagwa’s position, especially as military loyalty remains crucial for the government’s stability.