HARARE – General Emmanuel Matatu on Monday formally assumed command of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF), taking over from General Phillip Valerio Sibanda during a handover-takeover ceremony at Charles Gumbo Barracks, formerly One Commando Barracks.
But the event drew heightened political interest after Vice President Constantino Chiwenga — himself a former ZDF commander — arrived in full military uniform, a rare public appearance in fatigues that immediately stirred debate about Zanu PF’s succession dynamics.
Chiwenga retired from the military in 2017 after leading the intervention that ousted Robert Mugabe, and his decision to don uniform again triggered speculation about whether the gesture carried political meaning.
However, presidential spokesman George Charamba dismissed such interpretations as misplaced.
“The narrative on succession fears is fictional,” Charamba said on Tuesday. “What yesterday’s event did was to spark ignorance on an innocent story. It is a long-standing tradition in the military that when a full general exits and another comes in, all generals of the same rank re-emerge from retirement to don their uniforms as a mark of respect.
“That happens all the time when there is a change of guard at the military apex.”
Chiwenga, who served as ZDF commander for over a decade, stood alongside senior military chiefs as Matatu took the oath of command.
The ceremony marked one of the most significant leadership transitions within the security services in years, as Sibanda steps down after a long tenure at the helm of the ZDF.
Mnangagwa left the military ceremony for the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport where service chiefs and other senior officials lined up to see him off. Chiwenga, who was still in full uniform, saluted President Emmerson Mnangagwa before his departure for Angola to attend the 7th African Union – European Union Summit.
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