President Emmerson Mnangagwa will preside over a military parade to mark the change in command of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. General Philip Valerio Sibanda is retiring, and General Emmanuel Matatu will assume the role of Commander. The President also promoted Major-General Asher Walter Tapfumaneyi to the rank of Lieutenant General, appointing him as the new Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army.
These promotions and appointments were made under the powers granted to the President by the Constitution and the Defence Act. General Sibanda concludes a military career spanning over five decades, which began with his training in Tanzania and Lebanon during the liberation war. He held numerous command and staff positions after independence, including leading United Nations peacekeeping missions and serving as the ZDF Commander since 2017.
These promotions and appointments were made under the powers granted to the President by the Constitution and the Defence Act. General Sibanda concludes a military career spanning over five decades, which began with his training in Tanzania and Lebanon during the liberation war. He held numerous command and staff positions after independence, including leading United Nations peacekeeping missions and serving as the ZDF Commander since 2017.
