President Mnangagwa broke the law on March 25 when he appointed Army Commander Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe to run the Ministry of Sport. This action went against what Zimbabwe's Constitution allows presidents to do. Legal experts say this transfer happened without following the right steps. The Defense Act requires Parliament to know about military retirements before they happen.
By March 27, Parliament leaders had not received any paperwork about Sanyatwe leaving the army. No one has been named to take over his military job yet, which means he still holds his army position legally. The Constitution clearly says active military members cannot hold government jobs or do political work. This rule exists to keep the military separate from politics.
The Constitution has specific rules about who can become a minister. These rules say ministers come from Parliament or civilian life if they have special skills. When Mnangagwa put a serving general directly into his Cabinet, he mixed military power with political office. This goes against the very system Zimbabwe created after gaining independence to stop such power grabs.
This illegal move has created a serious crisis for Mnangagwa's leadership. By ignoring the laws he swore to protect, he has damaged trust in his presidency. Some lawyers call his actions "ultra vires" - a fancy way of saying he did something the law does not allow him to do. They believe courts might step in, or Parliament could start removal proceedings against him.
The timing makes everything worse because Zimbabwe faces major protests planned for March 31. By breaking constitutional rules, Mnangagwa has weakened his authority over both the military and the government. The courts, lawmakers, and citizens must decide if a president who breaks the Constitution deserves to stay in power. The future of Zimbabwe's democratic system hangs in the balance.
By March 27, Parliament leaders had not received any paperwork about Sanyatwe leaving the army. No one has been named to take over his military job yet, which means he still holds his army position legally. The Constitution clearly says active military members cannot hold government jobs or do political work. This rule exists to keep the military separate from politics.
The Constitution has specific rules about who can become a minister. These rules say ministers come from Parliament or civilian life if they have special skills. When Mnangagwa put a serving general directly into his Cabinet, he mixed military power with political office. This goes against the very system Zimbabwe created after gaining independence to stop such power grabs.
This illegal move has created a serious crisis for Mnangagwa's leadership. By ignoring the laws he swore to protect, he has damaged trust in his presidency. Some lawyers call his actions "ultra vires" - a fancy way of saying he did something the law does not allow him to do. They believe courts might step in, or Parliament could start removal proceedings against him.
The timing makes everything worse because Zimbabwe faces major protests planned for March 31. By breaking constitutional rules, Mnangagwa has weakened his authority over both the military and the government. The courts, lawmakers, and citizens must decide if a president who breaks the Constitution deserves to stay in power. The future of Zimbabwe's democratic system hangs in the balance.
