Zimbabwe's ex-Army chief appointed ruling party's vice president

Harare  : Zimbabwe's former army chief, General Constantino Chiwenga, who led a coup that ended Robert Mugabe's 37-year rule, was on Saturday appointed vice president and second secretary of the ruling Zanu-PF party, the presidency said.

Presidential spokesperson George Charamba said in a statement that Chiwenga, who retired from the military last week, and state security minister Kembo Mohadi were appointed as President Emmerson Mnangagwa's deputies in the ruling party "with immediate effect".

Mohadi belongs to the old PF-Zapu, which was led by late Vice President Joshua Nkomo, who signed a unity accord with then President Mugabe's Zanu-PF to form the united Zanu-PF, Xinhua news agency reported.

The two's appointments pave the way for them to be appointed the country's vice presidents.