HARARE, Zimbabwe — The general in charge of the military intervention in Zimbabwe that led to the resignation of longtime ruler Robert Mugabe is to retire from the defence forces, paving the way for him to be appointed as vice-president. General Constantino Chiwenga “is set to retire pending redeployment,” said chief secretary to the president and cabinet Misheck Sibanda in a statement Monday. Chiwenga has not stated his political ambitions, but is widely tipped to take up a one of the two vacant vice-presidents’ posts under President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Two former army generals already hold powerful posts in Mnangagwa’s cabinet, while another general was appointed as ruling ZANU-PF party commissar at a congress on Nov.15. New defence forces commander Valerio Sibanda said the military intervention, dubbed Operation Restore Legacy, had officially ended Monday.

Source: National Post December 18, 2017 16:18 UTC