Joint Operations Command (Zimbabwe)

The Joint Operations Command (JOC) is an informal, extra-constitutional body in Zimbabwe comprised of the heads of the country's security forces. It is not formally established by law but wields significant power and influence within the Zimbabwean government and political landscape.

The JOC typically includes the Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, the Commissioner General of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, the Director General of the Central Intelligence Organisation, and the Commissioner General of the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service. Occasionally, other senior figures from the security establishment are included.

The JOC's primary function is ostensibly to coordinate the activities of the various security agencies and to advise the President on national security matters. However, it has been accused of interfering in political processes, particularly during elections, and of using its power to suppress dissent and maintain the ruling party's grip on power. Critics argue that the JOC operates with impunity, is not accountable to civilian oversight, and has been implicated in human rights abuses. The secrecy surrounding its operations and membership further fuels these concerns.