Valerio Sibanda poised for Cabinet appointment

Former Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander, Philip Valerio Sibanda, is reportedly set to join President Emmerson Mnangagwa's cabinet under a planned restructuring of the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development. According to the Zimbabwe Independent, sources indicate he is expected to take over the Lands portfolio.

Sibanda's career spans the liberation struggle, where he served as a Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (Zipra) guerrilla fighter, rising through the ranks to become commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces under both the late Robert Mugabe and President Mnangagwa.

Political insiders describe him as a stabilising figure within the security sector, and his retirement late last year was widely seen as paving the way for a senior civilian role. Since stepping down, speculation has been rife over his next appointment, and the new Lands portfolio appears to be the culmination of those expectations.

Observers suggest that his appointment could signal a stronger alignment between the government and security institutions in managing Zimbabwe's critical land and agricultural sectors.