Zimbabwe VP Chiwenga appointed defense minister

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed vice president, retired general Constantino Chiwenga as the country’s defense minister.

Mnangagwa also put co-vice president Kembo Mohadi in charge of the National Peace and Reconciliation portfolio, acting chief secretary to the President and Cabinet Justin Mupamhanga said in a statement Friday.

The two VPs were sworn in on Thursday by the chief justice Luke Malaba.

“In terms of section 99 of the constitution, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe may assign functions to Vice presidents to assist him/her in the discharge of his/her functions and perform any other functions, including the administration of any ministry of department or Act of Parliament,” read part of the statement.

He was the commander of the Zimbabwe defence Forces before he was retired to take up the Vice President’s position.

President Mnangagwa took over from former president Robert Mugabe last month after Mugabe resigned following military and public pressure.

Chiwenga was the leader of the coup which pushed the former head of state Robert Mugabe out of power last month.