Zimbabwe leader Emmerson Mnangagwa fired a top general on Tuesday. Political experts say this move helps him keep control as fears rise about his former friends trying to kick him out. Mnangagwa grabbed power when the army forced out Robert Mugabe back in 2017. He faces increasing pushback from members of his ZANU-PF party, which has run Zimbabwe ever since the country broke free from British rule in 1980.
Veterans who fought for the country's freedom want everyone to protest across Zimbabwe on March 31. They hope to make Mnangagwa quit. These veterans blame him for making money problems worse and planning to stay boss after 2028, when his time should be up. Mnangagwa says these claims are false. He warned against troublemakers at a party meeting on Wednesday in Harare. Experts believe Mnangagwa feels less secure about his power, which explains why he keeps changing who leads the army, police, and spy agencies.
Mnangagwa kicked out Anselem Sanyatwe, the number two general who ran the army, marking his third major staff change lately. He already pushed out the police chief and spy boss. Eldred Masunungure, who studies politics, told Newsday that Mnangagwa seems to be guarding himself from a possible takeover. The war veterans against Mnangagwa want Constantino Chiwenga to take charge instead. Chiwenga, a former general who helped remove Mugabe, serves as vice president today. These freedom fighters may be fewer and older, but they still hold sway in Zimbabwe politics because they fought with many security leaders during the freedom war.
Sanyatwe used to lead the presidential guards for Mugabe and helped make the 2017 takeover happen. He also sent soldiers who killed six people and hurt many more during protests after the elections in August 2018. Sanyatwe remains close friends with Chiwenga. The president gave him a new job as sports minister, replacing Kirsty Coventry, who just became head of the International Olympic Committee on March 20.
Veterans who fought for the country's freedom want everyone to protest across Zimbabwe on March 31. They hope to make Mnangagwa quit. These veterans blame him for making money problems worse and planning to stay boss after 2028, when his time should be up. Mnangagwa says these claims are false. He warned against troublemakers at a party meeting on Wednesday in Harare. Experts believe Mnangagwa feels less secure about his power, which explains why he keeps changing who leads the army, police, and spy agencies.
Mnangagwa kicked out Anselem Sanyatwe, the number two general who ran the army, marking his third major staff change lately. He already pushed out the police chief and spy boss. Eldred Masunungure, who studies politics, told Newsday that Mnangagwa seems to be guarding himself from a possible takeover. The war veterans against Mnangagwa want Constantino Chiwenga to take charge instead. Chiwenga, a former general who helped remove Mugabe, serves as vice president today. These freedom fighters may be fewer and older, but they still hold sway in Zimbabwe politics because they fought with many security leaders during the freedom war.
Sanyatwe used to lead the presidential guards for Mugabe and helped make the 2017 takeover happen. He also sent soldiers who killed six people and hurt many more during protests after the elections in August 2018. Sanyatwe remains close friends with Chiwenga. The president gave him a new job as sports minister, replacing Kirsty Coventry, who just became head of the International Olympic Committee on March 20.
