President Emmerson has announced Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander General Phillip Valerio Sibanda as an ex officio Member of the ZANU PF Politburo.
Mnangagwa made the announcement on Saturday, 28 October at the ZANU PF 20th National People’s Conference at the ZANU PF Conventional Centre in Gweru.
Mnangagwa was giving his closing remarks for the two-day conference which started on Friday. He said:
The amended 2023 Party Constitution gives impetus, urgency and renewed focus to the socio-economic and political realities of our country towards lifting many out of poverty and into prosperity. During the course of the year, we lost one of our Party stalwarts, Cde Joshua Teke Malinga who was the Secretary for People with Disabilities.
To fill the vacancy, I am appointing, Cde Rose Mpofu of Matabeleland South Province as a Politburo Member and the new Secretary for People with Disabilities.
Additionally, “Cde Gwenzi”, General, Phillip Valerio Sibanda, as an Ex Officio Member of the Politburo.
The phrase “Ex officio” is used to describe a role or position that someone holds automatically or as a result of their other responsibilities or title.
When someone has an ex officio position, they have certain rights, powers, or privileges simply because of the position they hold, rather than being appointed or elected specifically to fulfill those duties.
The appointment is likely illegal and a violation of Zimbabwe’s constitution which says that members of the security services must not be active members or office-bearers of any political party or organisation.
Political commentators have consistently raised the issue of party-state conflation in Zimbabwe which is considered a hindrance to democratisation.
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