Mnangagwa extends Sibanda’s tenure amid intelligence, police shake-up
HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa, currently on leave, has extended the tenure of General Philip Valerio Sibanda, 70, as Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) by a year after he reached retirement age.
The extension, effective from 24 December 2024 to 23 November 2025, was announced in the Zimbabwean Government Gazette published on 3 January 2025.
It was authorized under the Defence (Regular Force) (Officers) Regulations of 1988.
Mnangagwa’s decision follows his recent replacement of the country’s intelligence and police chiefs last week, signaling a broader shake-up in Zimbabwe’s security leadership.
Sibanda has served as the Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces since 2017, succeeding the current Vice President, Constantino Chiwenga, who previously held the position.
The latest move comes in the wake of a power crisis among the ruling elites in Zimbabwe with one group aligned to retired General Chiwenga while another is rally behind Mnangagwa with a third term campaign.
The unconstitutional third term campaign has seen Mnangagwa indirectly denying his desire to stay in office beyond 2028 while secretly laying the ground for the realisation of this goal.
Godwin Matanga was replaced by Stephen Mutamba as Police Commissioner-General while Fulton Mangwanya was appointed Director-General of the President’s department which largely oversees intelligence.
- Kukurigo Updates/additional info via RosGwen24 News
