Joint Operations Command

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The Joint Operations Command is a military junta that supports Robert Mugabe's rule in Zimbabwe and coordinates violent operations against opposition members. It is headed by Minister of Rural Housing and Social Amenities Emmerson Mnangagwa, who took over from Minister of State Security Didymus Mutasa soon after the Zimbabwean presidential election held on March 29, 2008.^[1]

Few details on the members of the JOC exist for public scrutiny, except that it consists mostly of chiefs of staff in the military of Zimbabwe, which operates the Zimbabwe Republic Police that has been involved in harassment campaigns against both opposition partisans and, in an infamous case, the U.S. ambassador.

It has, notably, come under scrutiny from members of the Politburo of the ZANU-PF.

[edit] Known members

• General Constantine Chiwenga - Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces
• Air Marshal Perence Shiri - Commander of the Air Force of Zimbabwe
• Lieutenant General Philip Sibanda - Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army
• Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri - Commissioner of the Zimbabwe Republic Police
• Maj. Gen. Paradzayi Zimondi (Rtd.) - Head of the Zimbabwe prison service
• Happyton Bonyongwe - Director-General of the Central Intelligence Organization
• Danny Stannard - Former head of the CIO (Consultant)[1]

[edit] References

1. ^ IV. Background, “Bullets for Each of You”: State-Sponsored Violence since Zimbabwe’s March 29 Elections. Human Rights Watch. June 2008. ISBN 1-56432-324-2