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Zimbabwe military general replaces Kirsty Coventry as sports minister

On Tuesday, President Emmerson Mnangagwa appointed Gen. Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe, commander of the Zimbabwe National Army, as the new Sports minister, replacing Kirsty Coventry.
Kirsty Coventry, Africa's most successful Olympian at 41 years old, was relieved of her post following her recent election as the new president of the International Olympic Committee on Sunday, March 23, 2025, and is expected to take up her post in June.
Coventry, who received a warm welcome in Harare, will resign from her minister's job and move to Lausanne, Switzerland, the Olympic home city, for an eight-year term as the first woman to head the global Olympic movement.
According to Mnangagwa's statement, Coventry was deservedly relieved of her duties, while Sanyatwe is being 'terminated' from his military position.
The appointment of Sanyatwe, who was previously commander of the Presidential Guard and ambassador to Tanzania, has sparked debate in Zimbabwe, a politically unstable country, and some view his move to a cabinet role as a downgrade from his all-powerful military position, potentially as part of Mnangagwa's plan to weaken Constantino Chiwenga's grip on the army.

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News24

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Zimbabwe moves army chief to sports ministry

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allAfrica

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Zimbabwe: Lt-Gen Sanyatwe Retired, Replaces Coventry As Sports Minister

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5 days ago·South Africa

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Associated Press News

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Lean Left

Zimbabwe military general replaces Kirsty Coventry as sports minister

Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed the country’s military boss to replace Kirsty Coventry as sports minister. Mnangagwa says that Gen.

6 days ago·United States

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Bloomberg

Lean Left

Zimbabwe Names New Sports Minister to Replace Kirsty Coventry

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa retired the commander of the army, appointing him as the new sports minister.

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She was only nine years old, but she was caught in front of television: when Kirsty Coventry (Harare, Zimbabwe, 1983) saw the Barcelona Olympic Games she knew that something inside her had changed forever. So the new president of the International Olympic Committee confessed in an open letter. More information (Auto) Title news (Auto) 115517307Coventry, elected by an absolute majority in the first round, in a vote in which Juan Antonio Samaranch…

3 days ago

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