Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mangangwa calls the new army chief

Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mangangwa appointed a new army chief on the eve of the planned protests on Monday called a group of war veterans who want to force the president to resign.

Former Major General, Emmanuel Matat, takes on an immediate effect.

Mnangagwa’s president has encountered his former supporters to refuse to address mismanagement and corruption.

Earlier this week, Mangangwa sharply went to the post of his chief of the army, Lieutenant General Anselm Sanyat, appointed him to the Minister of Sport, Art and Culture.

Matata reportedly 72 years old is a veteran of the 1970s, which is still a huge factor in Zimbabwean politics.

He trained in Zambia as a member of the Army of the People’s Republic of Zimbabwe (Zipra), one of the two rival guerrilla forces who fought with the White Minority rule in the then Rhodesia.

Zipra was armed wing launched – led by Joshua NCOM – unlike the party Zan Robert Mugabe and Emerson Mnangagwa. After independence, both groups have united to form a Zanu-PF that has been operating in power since then.

Matat is considered as the loyalist of the current head of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces (ZDF) Philip Valery Sibanda, also a war veteran with Zipra.

It is likely that General Sibanda consolidates his control over the army, which will comply with the president of Mangangwe and make him feel safer because he trusts the ZDF commander.

Previously, ZDF was headed by a person who is now Vice President of Constantine Chief.

The war veterans faction calling for protests on Monday called on the Chief to take over the presidency.

According to the state newspaper “Chronicle”, the promotion of Matat is part of the constant efforts to strengthen the country’s defense forces.

Due to its relentless reputation, Emerson Manganagwa He nicknamed “Crocodile”.

He became president in 2017 after the coup against the long -standing leader Robert Mugabe, and is currently serving his second and term ending in 2028.

The problems started writing during the Zanu-PF rally last year after the notice that the managwa wanted to extend his position.

Despite the recent confidence in Mnangagwa that he intended to leave in three years, many remain unconvincing.

Criticism about his leadership from within his party and allegations that he intended to find himself in power, caused memories of the coup that dumped Mugabe.

Although it is unclear how much public support for veterans for the planned protests, the Security Minister warned the Zimbabvians from participating in the demonstration.

Police have announced a four -day ban around the capital to transfer weapons or any tools that can be used to cause violence.