Harare – President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Monday paid tribute to retired army General Philip Valerio Sibanda who is the outgoing Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Commander.
”The outgoing Commander General P.V Sibanda, has served our great nation in the military, in different capacities from 1974 to date, a period of 51 years. Throughout his career, General Sibanda has always demonstrated unflinching loyalty and patriotism as well as unparallel discipline and professionalism both as a soldier and son of Zimbabwe,” Mnangagwa said at Charles Gumbo barracks at an event to witness the swearing in of the new army chief General Emmanuel Matatu.
”He has consistently served with integrity, exhibiting ethics and values that are worthy of emulation by the rank and file across the Defence Forces.”
General Sibanda was appointed Colonel Quartermaster Staff at Army Headquarters from 1981 to 1984.
He was deputy Commandant All Arms Battle School from 1984 to 1985.
General Sibanda was Commandant Zimbabwe Staff College from 1985 to 1987.
He served as Commander 4 Infantry Brigade from 1987 to 1990.
He served again as Commandant Zimbabwe Staff College 1990 to 1992.
General Sibanda was Chief of Staff General Staff during periods 1994 to 1995.
In 2002 was appointed Force Commander Operation Sovereign Legitimacy in DRC under the SADC Allied Forces until the mission ended.
In 2004, General Sibanda was appointed Chief of Staff and then Lt. General. He was subsequently elevated to Commander Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) in 2004.
In 2017 he was appointed General and Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.
