Mnangagwa appoints official accused of subverting elections to key army role

HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF), has appointed former Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) deputy director general Walter Tapfumaneyi as Chief of Staff in the Zimbabwe National Army.

The appointment sees Tapfumaneyi, a retired brigadier general, promoted to the rank of Major General. He replaces Lieutenant General Emmanuel Matatu, who was recently elevated to army commander.

The appointment has drawn attention due to Tapfumaneyi’s controversial past.

Opposition parties and human rights groups accused him of coordinating efforts to intimidate voters during the August 2023 general elections, allegedly in conjunction with the ruling Zanu-PF-aligned Forever Association of Zimbabwe (FAZ).

International observer missions, including the European Union Election Observer Mission (EUEOM), the Commonwealth observer mission, and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), issued scathing assessments of FAZ’s role in the 2023 elections.

EUEOM Chief Observer Fabio Massimo Castaldo stated that FAZ members intimidated the electorate, noting their “intimidating presence” at many rallies and first-hand reports of coerced attendance at Zanu-PF events.

The Commonwealth report highlighted concerns over FAZ’s presence near polling stations, where members were allegedly recording voters’ names and identification numbers, fueling allegations of voter intimidation.

SADC also concurred, noting reports that the rural vote might have been compromised by alleged intimidation attributed to FAZ, described as a “quasi-security intelligence organisation.”

In March 2024, the United States placed Tapfumaneyi under sanctions for “leading the campaign to disrupt the 2023 electoral process through his leadership of ruling party-affiliated groups.”

The U.S. Department of the Treasury further alleged that Tapfumaneyi “is also alleged to have been personally involved in past kidnappings.”

According to ZimLive, sources familiar with the developments suggest that Mnangagwa is reportedly grooming Tapfumaneyi for the position of army commander, with expectations that he could succeed Matatu before 2027.

Tapfumaneyi had left the CIO in March and was reportedly “parked at his farm in Banket” prior to his confirmed appointment on Wednesday.

In related developments within the CIO leadership, Cephas Hodzi has replaced Tapfumaneyi as deputy director general in charge of operations.

Paul Chikawa has been appointed director general for external affairs, and Benadate Mandongwe becomes deputy director general for administration.