Ministry of Defence (Zimbabwe)
![]() Flag of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces | |
| Department overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed |
|
| Preceding Department |
|
| Jurisdiction | Government of Zimbabwe |
| Headquarters | Defence House, Corner Kwame Nkuruma / 3rd Street, Harare |
| Minister responsible | |
| Deputy Minister responsible |
|
| Child Department | |
| Key document | |
| Website | www |
| Minister of Defence of Zimbabwe | |
|---|---|
![]() | |
since 10 September 2018 | |
| Style |
|
| Reports to | President of Zimbabwe |
| Appointer | President of Zimbabwe |
| Term length | Five years |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Zimbabwe |
| Precursor | Minister of Defence of Zimbabwe Rhodesia |
| Formation | 18 April 1980 |
| First holder | Robert Mugabe |
| Deputy | Levi Mayihlome |
| Website | www |
The Ministry of Defence is a Zimbabwe Government ministry, responsible for defence and national defence policy. The current incumbent minister is Oppah Muchinguri.[1] Levi Mayihlome holds the portfolio of Deputy Minister of Defence. The Ministry is located in the capital of Harare.
It oversees the following uniformed services:
It was established in July 1994 as the combined Zimbabwe Defence Forces Headquarters.
Ministers
| No. | Name | Tenure | Title | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Rhodesia (1923–1954) | ||||
| 1 | Robert James Hudson | 1 October 1923 – 5 July 1933 | Minister of Defence | |
| 5 July 1933 – 12 September 1933 | Minister of Justice and Defence | |||
| 2 | Stephen Martin Lanigan O'Keeffe | 12 September 1933 – 14 November 1934 | Minister of Defence | |
| 3 | Vernon Arthur Lewis | 14 November 1934 – 6 October 1936 | Minister of Justice and Defence | |
| 4 | Robert Clarkson Tredgold | 6 October 1936 – 12 January 1940 | Minister of Defence | |
| 12 January 1940 – 28 March 1940 | Minister of Justice, Defence and Air | |||
| 28 March 1940 – 1 March 1943 | Minister of Justice and Defence | |||
| 5 | Sir Godfrey Huggins | 1 March 1943 – 2 February 1944 | Minister of Defence | |
| 6 | Frank Ernest Harris | 2 February 1944 – 1 July 1945 | ||
| 7 | William Henry Ralston | 1 July 1945 – 7 June 1946 | ||
| 8 | Sir Ernest Lucas Guest | 7 June 1946 – 15 September 1948 | Minister of Defence and Air | |
| – | Sir Godfrey Huggins | 19 November 1948 – 7 September 1953 | Minister of Defence | |
| 9 | George Arthur Davenport | 7 September 1953 – 1 July 1954 | ||
| Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (1953–1963) | ||||
| 1 | Sir Godfrey Huggins | 7 September 1953 – 18 December 1953 | Minister of External Affairs and Defence | |
| 18 December 1953 – 2 November 1956 | Minister of Defence | |||
| 2 | Sir Roy Welensky | 2 November 1956 – 12 June 1959 | ||
| 3 | John Moore Caldicott | 12 June 1959 – 7 May 1962 | ||
| 4 | Sir Malcolm Palliser Barrow | 7 May 1962 – 31 December 1963 | ||
| Southern Rhodesia (1964–1965) | ||||
| 10 | Winston Field | 1 January 1964 – 14 April 1964 | Minister of External Affairs and Defence | |
| 11 | Ian Smith | 14 April 1964 – 8 May 1964 | ||
| 8 May 1964 – 28 August 1964 | Minister of Defence | |||
| 12 | Clifford Dupont | 28 August 1964 – 17 November 1965 | ||
| Rhodesia (UDI period, 1965–1979) | ||||
| – | Ian Smith | 17 November 1965 – 1966 | Minister of Defence | |
| 13 | The Duke of Montrose | 1966 – 1968 | ||
| 14 | Jack Howman | 1968 – 1974 | ||
| 15 | P. K. van der Byl | 1974 – 1976 | ||
| 16 | Reginald Cowper | 1976 – 1977 | ||
| 17 | Mark Partridge | 1977 – 1977 | ||
| 18 | Roger Hawkins | 1977 – 11 December 1979 | ||
| 19 | John Kadzviti | 1978 – 11 December 1979 | ||
| Zimbabwe Rhodesia (Internal Settlement period, 1979) | ||||
| 1 | Abel Muzorewa | 1 June 1979 – 11 December 1979 | Minister of Defence | |
| Zimbabwe (since 1980) | ||||
| 1 | Robert Mugabe | 1980 – 1985 | Minister of Defence | |
| 2 | Enos Nkala | 1985 – 1990 | ||
| 3 | Richard Hove | 1990 – 1992 | ||
| 4 | Moven Mahachi | 1992 – 26 May 2001 | ||
| 5 | Sydney Sekeramayi | 2001 – 13 February 2009 | ||
| 6 | Emmerson Mnangagwa | 13 February 2009 – 11 September 2013 | ||
| – | Sydney Sekeramayi | 11 September 2013 – 27 November 2017 | ||
| 7 | Kembo Mohadi | 30 November 2017 – 29 December 2017 | Minister of Defence, Security and War Veterans | |
| 8 | Constantino Chiwenga | 29 December 2017 – 11 September 2018 | Minister of Defence and War Veterans | |
| 9 | Oppah Muchinguri | 11 September 2018 – 4 September 2023 | ||
| 12 September 2023 – present | Minister of Defence | |||
Air
| No. | Name | Tenure | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Rhodesia | |||
| 1 | Robert Clarkson Tredgold | 12 January 1940 – 28 March 1940 | Minister of Justice, Defence and Air |
| 2 | Ernest Lucas Guest | 28 March 1940 – 7 June 1946 | Minister of Air |
| 7 June 1946 – 15 September 1948 | Minister of Defence and Air | ||
See also
- Zimbabwe Defence Forces
- Zimbabwe National Army
- Air Force of Zimbabwe
- Zimbabwe Republic Police
- Ministry of Home Affairs (Zimbabwe)
References
- ^ "Mnangagwa names his new cabinet after controversial election win". Zimbabwe News Now. 11 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
External links

