Christopher Mutsvangwa’s removal as Minister of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs on 03 February came after he reportedly demanded that President Emmerson Mnangagwa appoint him State Security minister.
ZimLive reported sources as saying Mnangagwa fired Mutsvangwa, who doubles as the chairman of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) “for insubordination”.
When appointing Mutsvangwa in September 2023, Mnangagwa reportedly told him to resign from the ZNLWVA “but for whatever reason he would not give up that position.”
Mnangagwa is said to have been growingly annoyed with Mutsvangwa’s refusal to step aside from the post of ZNLWVA chairman and things came to a head when the minister reportedly turned up to see him without an appointment on Saturday. ZimLive was told:
Mutsvangwa had a proposal. He said to avoid the small inconvenience of him having to leave the war vets, Mnangagwa should appoint him as state security minister instead.
Mnangagwa was reportedly “furious” as he felt that Mutsvangwa was “appointing himself.”
The president also didn’t like the crude way he came across and there was a fallout.
Mnangagwa consulted his deputies Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi and they agreed with him that Mutsvangwa should be removed immediately.
Since Mutsvangwa was removed from cabinet on Saturday, various theories about Mnangagwa’s decision have abounded.
Some have claimed Mutsvangwa was sacked for attacking information minister Jenfan Muswere over board appointments at Zimpapers and the ZBC led to his departure.
Others have speculated that Mutsvangwa was fired over his role in opaque deals with Chinese investors.
More: Pindula News