NEW: President appoints Lieutenant-General Sanyatwe as new Minister of Sport

Ivan Zhakata

PRESIDENT MNANGAGWA has appointed Lieutenant-General Anselem Sanyatwe as the new Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Recreation following the election of Kirsty Coventry as president of the International Olympic Committee last week.

The President has also relieved Coventry from her position following last week’s development.

In a statement, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Martin Rushwaya said the appointment of Lieutenant-General Sanyatwe is with immediate effect.

“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 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,” reads the statement.

“Ans in terms of Section 104 (3) of the Constitution, he appoints Lieutenant-General (Retd) Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe as Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture with immediate effect.”

In a separate statement, Dr Rushwaya said: “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.”