Source: President to preside over ZDF change of guard – herald
Columbus Mabika
Herald Reporter
THE Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, President Mnangagwa, is expected to preside over a farewell, handover and takeover parade of ZDF command from Generals Philip Valerio to Emmanuel Matatu at Charles Gumbo Barracks in Harare on Monday.
The parade follows the retirement of Gen Sibanda and the promotion of Lieutenant-General Matatu to the rank of General, effective from today.
The President also promoted Major-General Asher Walter Tapfumaneyi to the rank of Lieutenant General, with effect from November 25, 2025, and subsequently appointed him Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army, replacing General Matatu.
The President made the promotions in accordance with section 216(2), as read with section 89 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, and sections 11(1)(a) and 11(4) of the Defence Act (Chapter 11:02), which empower the President, on the advice of the Minister of Defence, to reward distinguished service or gallant conduct with promotion to a higher rank.
“His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, acting in terms of section 216(2) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe as read with sections 7(1) and 8(2) of the Defence Act [Chapter 11:02], promoted Lieutenant General Emmanuel Matatu to the rank of General and appointed him Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, effective from November 21, 2025,” reads part of the promotion notice.
“His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, acting in terms of section 216(2) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe as read with sections 11(1)(a) and 11(4) of the Defence Act [Chapter 11:02], promoted Major General Asher Walter Tapfumaneyi to the rank of Lieutenant General and appointed him Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army, effective from November 25, 2025.”
Before his latest appointment, Lt-Gen Matatu had replaced Lt-Gen (Retired) Anselem Sanyatwe, who retired in March this year and was appointed to the position of Minister of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture.
Maj-Gen Tapfumaneyi was previously a Deputy Director-General in the President’s Department since 2020 before his promotion.
Gen Sibanda retires after more than five decades of unwavering dedication, valour, and distinguished service to Zimbabwe.
He was born in Guinea Fowl on December 24, 1954. After completing his primary education at Kana Mission, he moved to Mount Mary’s School, which he left in 1972 for financial reasons.
In early 1973, he joined Bata Shoe Company as a machine operator, but early the following year he left the then Rhodesia for Zambia, where he joined the ZIPRA forces, completing his military training in Tanzania at the end of 1974.
He then went to Lebanon for six months of commando training with the Palestine Liberation Organisation. On his return to Tanzania, he became an instructor at the Morogoro Training Camp.
In 1976, he became Commandant of one of the ZIPRA training camps in Zambia until mid-1977, when he was appointed Regional Commander of one of the ZIPRA operational areas in Zimbabwe.
Early in 1979, he became a member of the ZIPRA High Command and, as such, took part in the Lancaster House talks.
During the ceasefire period, he acted as Liaison Officer for the two ZIPRA assembly points in Mashonaland West, namely Papa and Romeo.
After Independence, he was attached to Headquarters 2 Brigade as a Staff Officer responsible for Liaison.
In January 1981, he passed the Senior Officers’ Selection Course, after which he attended the Senior Officers’ Orientation Course at the Zimbabwe Staff College. He was commissioned and attested into the ZNA as a Colonel on 18 April 1981 and posted to Army Headquarters as Colonel Quartermaster.
In 1982, then Col Sibanda attended the Intermediate Staff Course Number 2 at the Zimbabwe Staff College, and in 1982 he attended the Army Staff Course at the Staff College, Camberley, in the United Kingdom.
On his return to Zimbabwe, he resumed the appointment of Colonel Quartermaster until May 1984, when he became Commandant of the Battalion Battle School in Nyanga.
In November 1984, he returned to Harare as Commandant of the Zimbabwe Staff College.
Over the following years, he rose to become a Brigadier General, where he held various appointments, chief among them commanding the 4 Infantry Brigade in Masvingo and leading United Nations peacekeeping missions.
He was promoted to the rank of Major General and became the ZNA Chief of Staff General Staff.
He assumed ZNA command from 2003 to 2017 and served as Commander of the ZDF under the Second Republic from 2017 to date.
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