President Emmerson Mnangagwa has extended the term of General Philip Valerio Sibanda, the Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, by another year in what many see as a desperate attempt to tighten his grip on power. The extension, which runs from December 24th 2024 to November 23rd 2025, was announced through an official notice signed by Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Martin Rushwaya. It is a strategic move that speaks volumes about the fragile alliances within Zimbabwe’s political and military leadership.
This is not just an administrative decision. It is a political survival tactic. Mnangagwa has been walking a tightrope since taking power through a military coup in 2017. His hold on the presidency has always depended on the loyalty of key military figures and none have been more important than General Sibanda. When whispers of a coup emerged in January 2019 during Mnangagwa’s overseas visit to Russia and Eastern Europe, it was Sibanda who reportedly shielded him from losing power. This makes him not just a commander but a gatekeeper of the presidency.
Tensions continue to simmer between Mnangagwa and his deputy Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga. Chiwenga, who also played a crucial role in the 2017 coup, remains a formidable power broker with his own loyalists within the military. As the internal war for control of ZANU PF intensifies, Mnangagwa has chosen to strengthen his flank by keeping Sibanda close. It is no coincidence. He understands that military loyalty is the backbone of his presidency. Without it, he would be nothing more than a lame duck surrounded by vultures waiting to pounce.
Chiwenga is not a man to underestimate. His military credentials run deep and his ambitions are well known. There are growing signs that he is positioning himself for a leadership challenge, possibly before the 2028 elections. Mnangagwa’s plan to cling to power until 2030 goes against constitutional term limits and will not go unchallenged. Extending Sibanda’s term is therefore not about national interest or stability. It is about building a firewall against political threats both within and outside his party.
This decision exposes the paranoia inside the highest office. Mnangagwa knows he cannot rely on the ballot alone. He needs the barracks. He needs silence from the generals. He needs people like Sibanda to hold the line while he plots an unconstitutional extension of his rule. But this tactic may not work forever. History has taught us that when military loyalty shifts, presidencies fall. Mnangagwa is well aware of this. That is why he is fighting hard to keep Sibanda on his side.
This extension also sends a message to anyone who still believes in the idea of democracy in Zimbabwe. It tells us that elections do not matter if the president can simply move the pieces on a chessboard to secure his throne. It tells us that constitutional term limits are suggestions rather than rules. It tells us that the military is not a neutral institution but a key player in deciding who leads this country.
Zimbabwe’s political temperature is rising. With 2028 approaching, the stakes are getting higher. Mnangagwa’s inner circle is shrinking and trust is running thin. The extension of Sibanda’s term may delay the inevitable but it will not stop it. Sooner or later, the people of Zimbabwe will have to choose between the illusion of stability and the promise of real change. And when that time comes, no military appointment will be able to stop the tide.
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