President Mnangagwa has promoted Lieutenant General Emmanuel Matatu to the rank of General and appointed him Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces following the retirement of General Philip Valerio Sibanda.
The appointment is with effect from November 21.
Lt General Matatu
In a statement, Chief Secretary of the President and Cabinet, Dr Martin Rushwaya confirmed the appointment.
Major General Asher Walter Tapfumaneyi
“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 with effect from 21 November 2025.
The appointment follows the retirement of outgoing Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, General Philip Valerio Sibanda.’
Dr Rushwaya also, promoted Major General Asher Walter Tapfumaneyi to the rank of Lieutenant General and appointed him Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army with effect from 25 November 2025.
The appointment follows the promotion of outgoing Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army, Lieutenant General Emmanuel Matatu, to the post of General and Commander Zimbabwe Defence Forces.
