By A Correspondent -HARARE — President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed retired General Philip Valerio Sibanda to the ruling ZANU PF party’s Politburo, the party’s highest decision-making body outside of a national congress, the party announced on Monday.

The appointment of the former Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Commander, who retired in November 2025, to the powerful 49-member body is effective immediately, according to a statement signed by ZANU PF Secretary for Information and Publicity, Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa.

President Mnangagwa, who is also the ZANU PF First Secretary, made the appointment under Article 9, Section 65 as read with Section 67 of the party’s constitution, Mr. Mutsvangwa said.

General Sibanda, 71, served as the commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces from December 2017 until November 21, 2025, when he was succeeded by General Emmanuel Matatu. A decorated military officer, General Sibanda’s career spanned more than five decades, beginning as a ZIPRA guerrilla fighter during the liberation struggle. He went on to command the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) from December 2003 to December 2017.

Known as a professional soldier with a reputation for a scandal-free career and a stabilising influence within the military, his transition into a formal political role had been widely anticipated by political analysts. The appointment to the Politburo, a body that meets at least once a month and formulates and decides policy for the party, places him at the apex of Zimbabwe’s governing structure.

The announcement ends months of speculation about his next role following his retirement from the military.