Harare, Zimbabwe (AP) – Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Tuesday appointed the country’s military boss to replace Kirsty Coventry as sports minister.
Mnangagwa said General Anselem Sanyatwe, commander of Zimbabwe National Army, replaced Coventry after being elected as the new chairman of the International Olympic Committee.
The 41-year-old Coventry, the most successful Olympic athlete in Africa, was warmly welcomed in Harare. She was the first woman to be elected as the head of the Global Olympics and the first African.
Coventry once said that she would resign and move to Lausanne, the hometown of the Olympics in Switzerland. Her eight-year term in charge of the International Olympic Committee began in June.
Nevertheless, Mnangagwa’s statement said Coventry had been “relieved” since the “deserved election” to the IOC Post.
Sanyatwe’s choice sparked debate in politically unstable southern African countries.
Given that Sanyatwe’s promotion to cabinet role after Zimbabwe removed the Army-focused Robert Mugabe in 2017 could be seen as a relegation from an all-round military stance.
The president’s statement also said Sayatway was “terminated” from his military position.
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