Zimbabwe’s former Army Chief, Constantino Chiwenga, has been appointed as one of the country’s new Vice-Presidents. Mr. Chiwenga led the military takeover last November that resulted in the overthrow of President Robert Mugabe. He recently retired as Army Chief and became a deputy leader of the ruling ZANU-PF party on 23 December, 2017. The other deputy ZANU-PF leader, ex-State Security Minister, Kembo Mohadi, will also become Vice-President.
The country’s new President, Emmerson Mnangagwa came to power after the army intervened on 15 November last year, following a row over presidential succession. Days before the military takeover, Mr. Mnangagwa, then deputy president, was fired by President Mugabe forcing him to leave the country in what was widely understood to be an attempt by Mr. Mugabe to install his wife, Grace, as his successor.
But Mr. Mnangagwa pulled his strong ties to the military and following their intervention he was appointed president and inaugurated on 24th November, last year.
Like Mr. Mnangagwa, Mr. Chiwenga used to be one of President Mugabe’s right-hand men. He played a central role in the seizure of white-owned farms and orchestrated a brutal crackdown on the opposition after elections in 2008. But Mr. Chiwenga is now said to be committed to rescuing Zimbabwe’s economy, which he believes is in such a bad state that it threatens national security. Two former military men have already been appointed as Cabinet Ministers.
On 30 November 2017, former General Sibusiso Moyo, who played a prominent role in the takeover, was made Foreign Minister and former Air Force Chief, Perence Shiri, was named Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs.
