Online Reporter
Blessings Chidakwa, Senior Zimpapers Reporter
PRESIDENT MNANGAGWA has appointed Lieutenant-General Emmanuel Matatu as the new Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF), effective November 21, 2025, following the retirement of General Philip Valerio Sibanda. Matatu has been simultaneously promoted to the rank of General to assume his new role overseeing the ZDF.
In a separate move, Major-General Asher Walter Tapfumaneyi has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General and appointed to the position of Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA). This latter appointment is set to take effect four days later, on 25 November 2025.
The Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Martin Rushwaya, announced the changes in a statement last night.
“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), has 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 the outgoing Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, General Philip Valerio Sibanda,” reads the statement.
In a separate statement, Dr Rushwaya announced the new ZNA commander.
“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), has 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 the outgoing Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army, Lieutenant General Emmanuel Matatu, to the post of General and Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces,” he said.
Following his latest appointment, Lt-Gen Matatu succeeds Lt-Gen (Retired) Anselem Sanyatwe, who retired in March this year and was appointed Minister of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture.
Lt-Gen Matatu was promoted to Major General from Brigadier-General in 2021. He later moved from the Zimbabwe National Defence University to Army Headquarters as Chief of Staff Administration, before being appointed ZNA Commander and now ZDF Commander.
Major-General Tapfumaneyi previously served as Deputy Director-General in the President’s Department from 2020 before his promotion from Brigadier-General. He left the ZNA in 2006 and has held several senior Government positions, including Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborators, Former Political Detainees and Restrictees, as well as Principal Director in the Ministry of Presidential Affairs.
