Own Correspondent|President Mnangagwa has, with immediate effect, appointed Brigadier General Walter Tapfumaneyi (Rtd) and Dr Gatsha Mazithulela, as deputy directors-general of the President’s Department.
The two replaced Mr Aaron Nhepera, who was redeployed to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage as permanent secretary last year.
Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda confirmed the appointments in a statement yesterday.
“His Excellency, the President, Cde Dr ED Mnangagwa has with immediate effect, appointed Brigadier General (Rtd) Asher Walter Tapfumaneyi and Dr Gatsha Mazithulela as deputy directors-general of the President’s Department,” said Dr Sibanda.
“Prior to this appointment, Brigadier General (Rtd) Tapfumaneyi held several senior positions in Government that included permanent secretary, Ministry of Welfare Services for the War Veterans, War Collaborators, former Political Detainees and Restrictees; principal director, Ministry of Presidential Affairs and several positions in the Zimbabwe National Army.”
Brig Gen (Rtd) Tapfumaneyi also served in the President’s Department between 2005 and 2009 as director.
He is a holder of several academic qualifications including a Master of Science in International Relations and Master of Business Administration.
Tapfumaneyi was at one time identified as one of the kidnappers of Human Rights Defender Jestina Mukoko.
She was abducted at gun-point at her Norton home in 2008 and severely tortured at the height of political tensions in the country.
However, in 2017, High Court judge, Justice Nyaradzo Munangati-Manongwa ruled that former Intelligence Minister, Dydmus Mutasa, Tapfumaneyi and Chief Superintendent Peter Magwenzi of ZRP could be sued in their personal capacities for abducting and torturing Mukoko.
This was after Mukoko had been awarded $150 000 as compensation for the damages that she suffered while held incommunicado for three weeks by state security agents in December 2008.
With regards to Dr Mazithulela, prior to the latest appointment, he was the pro-Vice Chancellor of the National University of Science and Technology.
He is a renowned scientist who holds a PhD in Genetic Engineering and Master of Business Administration, among several qualifications. He is a member of the National Defence University Council and chairman of the National Authority of the Chemical Weapons Convention, Zimbabwe Chapter among many other several appointments.