Harare – Retired General Philip Valerio Sibanda made his first ZANU PF politburo meeting attendance after he was appointed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week.
Mnangagwa welcomed Sibanda in his speech at the politburo on Wednesday.
”I recognize and welcome in a special way, Retired General, Cde. Philip Valerio Sibanda, who was known during the struggle as ‘Cde Annanias Gwenzi’. In appointing him to this important structure of our colossal revolutionary mass party. I am confident that his broad experience will help advance the ongoing work towards the growth and development of our party,” Mnangagwa said.
Sibanda’s appointment comes at a time when ZANU PF succession fights are intensifying with Mnangagwa pushing his agenda to rule until 2030 while Vice President General (retired) Constantino Chiwenga want to replace him in 2028 when the incumbent’s term expires.
Mnangagwa through his loyalists have tabled constitutional amendments to push their agenda.
But Chiwenga loyalists are against the amendments saying they are against the wishes of the people of Zimbabwe.
Retired army Generals who are led by Air Marshal (retired) Henry Muchena have rejected the amendments which were put to parliament without a referendum.
Key to Mnangagwa’s faction are well known wealthy tenderprenuers Wicknel Chivhayo and Kuda Tagwirei and other actors like Paul Tungwarara, the advisor to the president.
Tagwirei and Tungwarara have already been co-opted into the ZANU PF Central Committee despite objections from other quarters of the ruling party.
In 2023, Mnangagwa appointed Sibanda who was then serving as the commander Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) into the politburo as an ex officio member but he reversed it after party stalwarts said it was illegal.