President Mnangagwa Appoints General (Rtd) Philip Valerio Sibanda to ZANU PF Politburo

ZANU PF First Secretary and President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has appointed General (Rtd) Philip Valerio Sibanda to the ruling party’s Politburo with immediate effect.

The appointment was announced in a statement issued on May 11, 2026, by the party’s Department of Information and Publicity.

According to the statement, the appointment was made in terms of Article 9, Section 65 as read together with Section 67 of the ZANU PF Constitution, reflecting the party leadership’s constitutional mandate in the restructuring and strengthening of senior party organs.

The statement was signed by Christopher Mutsvangwa, who serves as ZANU PF Secretary for Information and Publicity as well as the party’s official spokesperson.

General (Rtd) Sibanda is one of Zimbabwe’s most senior military figures, having previously served as Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. His appointment to the Politburo is expected to add strategic experience and leadership to the party’s highest decision-making body.

The ZANU PF Politburo plays a central role in guiding party policy, governance direction, and national political strategy, with appointments to the organ often viewed as significant in shaping the party’s organisational and developmental agenda.

The latest development comes as ZANU PF continues consolidating its structures and leadership ahead of key national programmes and long-term policy implementation initiatives.

By Witness A Phiri