Zimbabwe President removes army chief amid coup speculation

Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Tuesday appointed the country's army chief as sports minister.

A statement from the presidency Tuesday said Anselem Sanyatwe had been retired and reassigned to head the sports docket.

The sports vacancy became available this month after Kirsty Coventry was elected president of the International Olympic Committee.

Sanyatwe's removal as army chief comes at a time of increased political sparring ahead of general elections set for 2028.

Analysts say Mnangagwa appears to be acting to shield himself from a potential mutiny. A section of cadres of the ruling Zanu-PF party want Constantino Chiwenga, Mnangagwa's deputy who removed Robert Mugabe in 2017 to take over as president.

In recent months, Mnangagwa has also shuffled the heads of police and intelligence service.