President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF), has appointed former Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) deputy director general Walter Tapfumaneyi as Chief of Staff in the Zimbabwe National Army.
He replaces Lieutenant General Emmanuel Matatu, who was recently promoted to army commander.
ZimLive reported a source familiar with the developments as saying Tapfumaneyi, a retired brigadier general, who left the CIO in March, had been “parked at his farm in Banket”.
His appointment was reportedly confirmed on Wednesday, and he has been promoted to the rank of major general.
Mnangagwa is said to be grooming Tapfumaneyi for the position of army commander, with expectations that he could succeed Matatu before 2027.
Tapfumaneyi has been a controversial figure. Opposition parties and human rights groups accuse him of coordinating efforts to intimidate voters during the August 2023 elections, allegedly working with the ruling party-aligned Forever Association of Zimbabwe (FAZ).
The United States placed Tapfumaneyi under sanctions for “leading the campaign to disrupt the 2023 electoral process through his leadership of ruling party-affiliated groups.”
In March 2024, the US Department of the Treasury said Tapfumaneyi: “is also alleged to have been personally involved in past kidnappings.”
In related developments, Mnangagwa has approved several changes within the CIO leadership. Cephas Hodzi replaces Tapfumaneyi as deputy director general in charge of operations.
Paul Chikawa has been appointed director general for external affairs, while Benadate Mandongwe becomes deputy director general for administration.
More: ZimLive
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