{"id":46684,"date":"2025-03-28T06:22:35","date_gmt":"2025-03-28T10:22:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/under-fire-zimbabwe-president-names-new-army-chief\/28\/03\/2025\/"},"modified":"2025-03-28T06:22:35","modified_gmt":"2025-03-28T10:22:35","slug":"under-fire-zimbabwe-president-names-new-army-chief","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/under-fire-zimbabwe-president-names-new-army-chief\/28\/03\/2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Under-fire Zimbabwe president names new army chief"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"\" data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Zimbabwe&#8217;s President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed a new army chief ahead of planned protests on Monday, called by a group of war veterans who want to force the president to resign.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The former major general, Emmanuel Matutu, takes over with immediate effect.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">President Mnangagwa has faced calls from his former supporters to step down citing mismanagement and corruption.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Earlier this week Mnangagwa abruptly retired his army chief, Lt Gen Anselem Sanyatwe, appointing him sports, arts and culture minister.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Due to his ruthless reputation, Emmerson Mnangagwa <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-africa-66542695?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Byahoo.north.america%5D-%5Blink%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:goes by the nickname &quot;The Crocodile&quot;;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">goes by the nickname &#8220;The Crocodile&#8221;<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">He became president in 2017 following a coup against long-time leader Robert Mugabe, and is currently serving his second and final term, which expires in 2028.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Trouble began brewing during rallies of the governing Zanu-PF party last year after reports that Mnangagwa wanted to stay in office.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Despite a recent assurance from Mnangagwa that he did intend to step down in three years, many remain unconvinced.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The criticism about his leadership from within his party and accusations that he intends to cling to power evoked memories of the lead-up to the coup that toppled Mugabe.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">While it&#8217;s not clear how much public support the veterans have for their planned protests, the security minister has warned Zimbabweans against taking part in the demonstrations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The police have announced a four-day ban around the capital on the carrying of weapons or any instruments that can be used to cause violence.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">More BBC stories on Zimbabwe:<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>[Getty Images\/BBC]<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>Go to <\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/bbcafrica.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:BBCAfrica.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><em>BBCAfrica.com<\/em><\/a><em> for more news from the African continent.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>Follow us on Twitter <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BBCAfrica\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:@BBCAfrica;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><em>@BBCAfrica<\/em><\/a><em>, on Facebook at <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BBCnewsafrica\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:BBC Africa;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><em>BBC Africa<\/em><\/a><em> or on Instagram at <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/bbcafrica\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:bbcafrica;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><em>bbcafrica<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">BBC Africa podcasts<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/under-fire-zimbabwe-president-names-090046310.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Source link 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