Staff Reporter
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed the now retired Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) Commander, Lieutenant-General Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe, as the new Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture with immediate effect.
Lt-Gen (Rtd) Sanyatwe replaces Kirsty Coventry, who recently made history by being elected as the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Coventry, a former Olympic swimming champion, will assume her new role on June 23 at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Announcing the appointment, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Martin Rushwaya, said the changes were made in accordance with constitutional provisions.
“Acting in terms of section 108 (1) (a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, His Excellency President Dr E.D Mnangagwa has relieved Honourable Kirsty Coventry from her position as Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture following her well-deserved election as the president of the International Olympic Committee,” Dr. Rushwaya said in a statement last night.
He further explained the decision to retire Lt-Gen Sanyatwe from the military and redeploy him to a ministerial position.
“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," reads the statement from Dr Rushwaya.
Lt-Gen (Rtd) Sanyatwe is a decorated military officer with an extensive career in the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.
He played a significant role in Zimbabwe’s war of liberation and post-independence military operations.
He rose through the ranks to become ZNA Commander, a position he held until his retirement.
Beyond his military service, Minister Sanyatwe also brings diplomatic experience, having served as Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Tanzania.
His new appointment marks a transition from military and diplomatic duties to a key role in sports administration.
His appointment is expected to shape the future of Zimbabwe’s sports, recreation, arts, and cultural sectors, following Coventry’s tenure, which was marked by efforts to improve governance and funding in local sports.
