Retired General Phillip Valerio Sibanda Appointed to ZANU-PF Politburo
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed retired Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander Phillip Valerio Sibanda to the ZANU-PF Politburo, with the appointment taking immediate effect.
The development was announced on Monday in a statement issued by ZANU-PF Secretary for Information and Publicity Christopher Mutsvangwa.
Also Read: General Valerio Sibanda Stays: Mnangagwa Extends ZDF Commander’s Tenure
Appointment Confirmed
According to the statement, Mnangagwa exercised his powers under the ZANU-PF Constitution to appoint the retired army commander to the party’s top decision-making body.
Sibanda’s appointment comes shortly after his retirement from the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, where he served as commander.
Previous Appointment Reversed
This is not the first time Sibanda has been named to the Politburo. In October 2023, he was appointed as an ex officio member during ZANU-PF’s 20th National People’s Conference held in Gweru.
However, the appointment was later reversed after concerns were raised by lawyers and civil society organisations over constitutional provisions barring serving members of the security services from participating in partisan politics.
Section 208 of Zimbabwe’s Constitution prohibits active members of the military and security services from acting in a partisan manner or holding positions in political parties.
Appointment Follows Retirement
Following the backlash in 2023, presidential spokesperson George Charamba said the matter had been deferred until Sibanda retired from military service.
His latest appointment now comes after officially stepping down from the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, clearing the constitutional concerns that previously surrounded his inclusion in the Politburo.
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