Online Reporter
Columbus Mabika
Herald Reporter
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, President Mnangagwa, has promoted Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) Major General Thomas Moyo to the rank of Lieutenant General on retirement, capping a military career spanning 46 years.
The President made the promotion in terms of the Defence Act (Chapter 11:02) Section 20, as read with Statutory Instrument 257 of 2020, Section 19c subsection 2c.
Commander ZDF, General Emmanuel Matatu, approved the promotion to the Minister of Defence, Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri.
Acting on the advice of Minister Muchinguri Kashiri, President Mnangagwa consented and approved the promotion of Major General Moyo.
The promotion was also made in line with Statutory Instrument 257 of 2020, which stipulates that officers be promoted to the next higher rank six months before their retirement.
The promotion is with effect from 31 July.
As per military tradition, Commander Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) physically confers ranks on the shoulders of the newly promoted officer.
Conferring the rank, General Matatu spoke at length about Lt General Moyo’s long-standing role in various military units, formations and appointments.
He said his impact is seen in the evolution of the defence forces.
“It is my pleasure this afternoon to preside over this ceremony where I have just conferred the rank and status of Lieutenant General. He has served the Zimbabwe Defence Forces from its inception in the Parachute Corps, seen its evolution contributed immensely to its development until becoming one of its illustrious commanding fficers.”
Gen Matatu praised Lt General Moyo’s distinguished career, saying he should remain connected to the institution even in retirement as the ZDF will always be his home.
“As you retire, and you go into your retirement, please do not isolate yourself from the organisation. This is your home; you spent the majority of your life serving the nation, both before and after our independence,” he said.
In his remarks, Lt Gen Moyo expressed gratitude for the recognition, emphasising his promotion and the mentorship and support of his commanders.
“It is with great pleasure that I make this response to your remarks on this historic occasion in my life and in my career. I feel greatly honoured and view this as recognition for my illustrious and dedicated 46 years of service to our great country,” he said.
Brigadier General Maxwell Masuku, who was deputising Lt Gen Moyo, said his boss was among the most consequential commanders of his generation.
“Lieutenant General Moyo unequivocally is one of our nation’s best, and a bold, innovative leader who you could also relate to and was respected by both the most experienced officers and ordinary soldiers,” he said.
Lt Gen Moyo began his career in the Parachute Regiment, a unit responsible for airborne operations and forces that drop from aircraft directly into operational zones to strike enemy targets by surprise and seize key strategic locations at the formation of the Zimbabwe National Army in 1980.
He rose to become its Commanding Officer.
As Parachute Regiment Commanding Officer, then Lieutenant Colonel Moyo successfully commanded his unit to land behind enemy lines at Njili Airport in Kinshasa during Operation Sovereign Legitimacy in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
