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Mnangagwa promotes ex-CIO deputy director general to new army role
30 May 2025 at 09:04hrs | Views
Former Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) deputy director general Walter Tapfumaneyi has been appointed chief of staff in the Zimbabwe National Army by President Emmerson Mnangagwa. This move comes amid ongoing scrutiny from rights groups accusing Tapfumaneyi of election interference during the 2023 polls.
Tapfumaneyi stepped down from his CIO role in March and was reportedly "parked at his farm in Banket" awaiting his new appointment, which was confirmed this Wednesday, a source familiar with the developments told ZimLive.
Having retired from the military as a brigadier general, Tapfumaneyi has now been promoted to the rank of major general. He takes over the position previously held by Lieutenant General Emmanuel Matatu, who is the current army commander. It is widely expected that Tapfumaneyi will be promoted to army commander when Matatu retires, likely before 2027.
The military remains a critical power broker in Zanu-PF's internal succession dynamics, especially since the 2017 coup that removed longtime leader Robert Mugabe. Tapfumaneyi's rise to a top military position adds another layer of intrigue to the ongoing political maneuvering within the ruling party.
As the second highest-ranking official in the CIO, Tapfumaneyi was accused by opposition parties and human rights groups of orchestrating voter intimidation during the August 2023 elections. Reports linked him with the deployment of agents working alongside the ruling party-affiliated group, the Forever Association of Zimbabwe (FAZ), to disrupt the electoral process.
In March 2024, the United States Treasury Department placed Tapfumaneyi on sanctions for "leading the campaign to disrupt the 2023 electoral process through his leadership of ruling party-affiliated groups." The US also alleged his personal involvement in past kidnappings.
In addition to Tapfumaneyi's appointment, President Mnangagwa has approved changes in the CIO leadership. Cephas Hodzi has been appointed deputy director general in charge of operations, replacing Tapfumaneyi. Paul Chikawa now serves as director general external, while Benadate Mandongwe takes over as deputy director general in charge of administration.
These shifts signal a broader realignment within Zimbabwe's security apparatus as the ruling elite prepares for upcoming political challenges.
Tapfumaneyi stepped down from his CIO role in March and was reportedly "parked at his farm in Banket" awaiting his new appointment, which was confirmed this Wednesday, a source familiar with the developments told ZimLive.
Having retired from the military as a brigadier general, Tapfumaneyi has now been promoted to the rank of major general. He takes over the position previously held by Lieutenant General Emmanuel Matatu, who is the current army commander. It is widely expected that Tapfumaneyi will be promoted to army commander when Matatu retires, likely before 2027.
The military remains a critical power broker in Zanu-PF's internal succession dynamics, especially since the 2017 coup that removed longtime leader Robert Mugabe. Tapfumaneyi's rise to a top military position adds another layer of intrigue to the ongoing political maneuvering within the ruling party.
In March 2024, the United States Treasury Department placed Tapfumaneyi on sanctions for "leading the campaign to disrupt the 2023 electoral process through his leadership of ruling party-affiliated groups." The US also alleged his personal involvement in past kidnappings.
In addition to Tapfumaneyi's appointment, President Mnangagwa has approved changes in the CIO leadership. Cephas Hodzi has been appointed deputy director general in charge of operations, replacing Tapfumaneyi. Paul Chikawa now serves as director general external, while Benadate Mandongwe takes over as deputy director general in charge of administration.
These shifts signal a broader realignment within Zimbabwe's security apparatus as the ruling elite prepares for upcoming political challenges.
Source - ZimLive
