Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa just named Emmanuel Matatu as his new army leader right before Monday's planned protests. War veterans who previously backed Mnangagwa want him gone because they say he runs the country badly and steals money. Matatu takes over right away as the army boss. Earlier, Mnangagwa suddenly moved his previous army chief to a sports ministry job.
Matatu is about 72 years old and comes from the same area as Mnangagwa. He isn't famous, and expert Eldred Masunungure thinks Mnangagwa picked him just to fill the spot during shaky times. Matatu is the fourth army leader since Mnangagwa grabbed power less than eight years ago. This shows big problems between the ruling party and military, according to Masunungure.
Matatu fought in the 1970s freedom wars, which still matter greatly in Zimbabwe today. He learned military skills in Zambia as part of the Zimbabwe People's Republic Army, one of two groups that fought against white rulers in what was then Rhodesia. People see Matatu as very loyal to Philip Valerio Sibanda, who leads all defense forces and also fought in those wars.
Sibanda probably wants more control over the army, which helps Mnangagwa feel safer because he trusts Sibanda. The previous defense forces boss, Constantino Chiwenga, became vice president. The war veterans who planned Monday's protests want Chiwenga to become president instead of Mnangagwa. People call Mnangagwa "The Crocodile" because he acts ruthlessly toward enemies.
Mnangagwa became president in 2017 after helping to push out Robert Mugabe. He serves his second and last term, which ends in 2028. Trouble started at ruling party rallies last year when rumors spread that Mnangagwa wanted to stay longer than allowed. Even though Mnangagwa recently promised to leave office in three years, many Zimbabweans don't believe him.
The complaints about his leadership from inside his party remind many of what happened before Mugabe lost power. Nobody knows how many people support the war veterans' protests. The security minister told Zimbabweans not to join these demonstrations. Police banned weapons and anything that could hurt people around the capital city for four days.
Matatu is about 72 years old and comes from the same area as Mnangagwa. He isn't famous, and expert Eldred Masunungure thinks Mnangagwa picked him just to fill the spot during shaky times. Matatu is the fourth army leader since Mnangagwa grabbed power less than eight years ago. This shows big problems between the ruling party and military, according to Masunungure.
Matatu fought in the 1970s freedom wars, which still matter greatly in Zimbabwe today. He learned military skills in Zambia as part of the Zimbabwe People's Republic Army, one of two groups that fought against white rulers in what was then Rhodesia. People see Matatu as very loyal to Philip Valerio Sibanda, who leads all defense forces and also fought in those wars.
Sibanda probably wants more control over the army, which helps Mnangagwa feel safer because he trusts Sibanda. The previous defense forces boss, Constantino Chiwenga, became vice president. The war veterans who planned Monday's protests want Chiwenga to become president instead of Mnangagwa. People call Mnangagwa "The Crocodile" because he acts ruthlessly toward enemies.
Mnangagwa became president in 2017 after helping to push out Robert Mugabe. He serves his second and last term, which ends in 2028. Trouble started at ruling party rallies last year when rumors spread that Mnangagwa wanted to stay longer than allowed. Even though Mnangagwa recently promised to leave office in three years, many Zimbabweans don't believe him.
The complaints about his leadership from inside his party remind many of what happened before Mugabe lost power. Nobody knows how many people support the war veterans' protests. The security minister told Zimbabweans not to join these demonstrations. Police banned weapons and anything that could hurt people around the capital city for four days.
