By Munacho Gwamanda- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has extended the tenure of Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Commander General Philip Valerio Sibanda by another year, shortly after firing the heads of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO).
This move underscores Mnangagwa’s growing reliance on military loyalty to consolidate his power.
Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana announced the extension on X (formerly Twitter), stating:
“It is hereby notified that His Excellency the President has, in terms of proviso (i) to the Defence (Regular Force) (Officers) Regulations, 1988, extended the appointment of General Philip Valerio Sibanda as Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces with effect from the 24th December 2024 to the 23rd November 2025.”
This extension comes on the heels of Mnangagwa’s controversial decision in November 2023 to appoint General Sibanda as an ex-officio member of the Zanu PF Politburo.
The appointment, which bypassed constitutional norms, was swiftly reversed after legal experts threatened court action.
Mnangagwa’s reliance on the military to entrench his authority follows a long tradition in Zanu PF, where top army officials have historically been incorporated into party structures to safeguard its dominance.
This practice, dating back to the late General Solomon Mujuru’s tenure in the 1980s, has transformed the military into a political instrument used to intimidate opposition supporters and stifle dissent.
Despite constitutional limitations, Mnangagwa justified Sibanda’s Politburo appointment as a mere ex-officio role, asserting it was consistent with past practices.
Speaking at the Saudi Arabia-Africa Summit, in November 2023 Mnangagwa dismissed concerns, stating:
“People are mistaken. General Sibanda is not a civil servant; he is an ex-officio member of the Politburo, meaning he cannot vote but can contribute to discussions.”
In a further show of consolidation, Mnangagwa recently promoted six Zimbabwe National Army colonels to the rank of Brigadier-General, alongside 27 Air Force officers.
These included two Air Commodores, 11 Group Captains, and 16 Wing Commanders. Analysts interpret these promotions as an effort to build a loyal military hierarchy while neutralizing factions aligned with Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.
Chiwenga, who was instrumental in the 2017 coup that brought Mnangagwa to power, has seen his influence erode as Mnangagwa systematically dismantles his power base.
Key Chiwenga allies, including the late Major General Sibusiso Moyo and former Air Force Commander Perrence Shiri, have either died under suspicious circumstances or been sidelined.
Mnangagwa’s actions mirror those of his predecessor Robert Mugabe, who used military loyalty to maintain power but ultimately fell to a military coup.
The militarization of Zanu PF structures and the systematic sidelining of opposition within the ruling party have left little room for democratic processes.
Human rights groups have repeatedly accused Zanu PF of using the military to intimidate opposition supporters, particularly during election periods.
Mnangagwa’s strategy, analysts argue, seeks to cement his indefinite rule while reneging on an alleged power-sharing agreement with Chiwenga.
By extending Sibanda’s contract and reinforcing military loyalty, Mnangagwa signals his intent to tighten his grip on both party and state, leaving little space for internal or external opposition.