President Emmerson Mnangagwa has retired the Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF), General Philip Valerio Sibanda, and appointed Lieutenant General Emmanuel Matatu as his successor.
Matatu has also been promoted to the rank of General, with the changes taking effect from 21 November 2021.
The announcement was made in a statement released on Wednesday, 19 November, by the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Misheck Sibanda. Said Sibanda:
“His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, acting in terms of section 216(2) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe as read with sections 7(1) and 8(2) of the Defence Act [Chapter 11:02], promoted Lieutenant General Emmanuel Matatu to the rank of General and appointed him Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces with effect from 21 November 2025.
“The appointment follows the retirement of outgoing Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, General Philip Valerio Sibanda.”
In a related development, President Mnangagwa has promoted Major General Asher Walter Tapfumaneyi to Lieutenant General and appointed him Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army, effective 25 November 2025. Sibanda said:
“His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, acting in terms of section 216(2) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe as read with sections 11(1)(a) and 11(4) of the Defence Act [Chapter 11:02], promoted Major General Asher Walter Tapfumanei to the rank of Lieutenant General and appointed him Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army with effect from 25 November 2025.
“The appointment follows the promotion of outgoing Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army, Lieutenant General Emmanuel Matatu, to the post of General and Commander Zimbabwe Defence Forces.”
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