Online Reporter
Nyore Madzianike [email protected]
PARLIAMENT has approved the names of 10 individuals recommended by President Mnangagwa for appointment to the Senate following the enactment of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Act, 2026, which increased the number of Senate seats from 80 to 90.
The appointments are provided for under amendments to Section 120 of the Constitution, which created 10 additional Presidentially-appointed Senate seats reserved for individuals selected on the basis of their professional expertise, skills and other competencies.
The constitutional provision requires the President to consult the National Assembly before making the appointments.
The appointees are therefore not elected Senators but will enter the Upper House through the new constitutional mechanism.
President Mnangagwa signed the amendment into law in July.
The 10 nominees are now awaiting swearing-in.
Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda announced the nominees during a sitting of the National Assembly and initiated the process that culminated in their approval by the House.
“After consultation with the National Assembly, I have to inform the House that His Excellency, the President, is desirous of appointing the following as Senators: No.1 Jabulani Sibanda, 2. Mary
Mliswa 3. Nokhutula Matsikenyere 4. Kudakwashe Tagwirei 5. Godwills Masimirembwa 6. Lucy Chitaga 7. Major-General(Rtd) Gibson Mashingaidze 8. Makhosini Hlongwane 9. Brilliant Dube 10. Irene Mutumbwa.”
The appointments bring together former legislators, senior Zanu-PF officials, a businessman, a retired military commander and individuals with backgrounds in law, politics and civic activism.
Cde Sibanda is a former chairman of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA), a position he held for more than a decade.
He is the Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial chairman.
Cde Mliswa served as the Zanu-PF Member of Parliament for Hurungwe West after winning the constituency in the 2018 harmonised elections.
In 2022, Cde Mliswa made party history when she became the first woman elected to chair a Zanu-PF provincial structure after winning the Mashonaland West provincial chairmanship.
Cde Matsikenyere represented Chimanimani West in the National Assembly following her victory in the 2018 elections.
She later served as Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution.
Cde Tagwirei is a prominent businessman with interests in the energy, mining and agricultural sectors.
He is also a member of the Zanu-PF Central Committee.
Cde Masimirembwa is the Zanu-PF Harare provincial chairman, while Major-General (Rtd) Mashingaidze is a liberation war veteran and former senior officer in the Zimbabwe National Army.
Cde Hlongwane is a former Zanu PF legislator for Mberengwa East who served in Government as Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, while Mr Brilliant Dube is a former opposition politician. Ms Mutumbwa and Ms Chitaga have also been actively involved in politics.
