The Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) has appointed Sunday Chidzambwa as the national team head coach, on a one-year contract.
Chidzambwa left Premier Soccer League side ZPC Kariba at the end of last season after a two-and-half-year stint.
Zifa communications and competitions manager Xolisani Gwesela said via a statement: "The association is confident that the coming of Chidzambwa, Zimbabwe's most successful coach, will steer the Warriors towards the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations as he has no club football distractions.
"Zifa on its part will endeavour to provide all necessary support to ensure success for the Warriors."
Chidzambwa's appointment ends months of delays by Zifa, with the post having remained vacant since the departure of Calisto Pasuwa in February.
FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza took charge of the Warriors for the opening round of the 2019 Afcon qualifiers on a caretaker basis, guiding them to a 3-0 win at home to Liberia.
Chidzambwa himself was then handed temporary charge for this year's Cosafa Cup tournament, where Zimbabwe won a record fifth crown. It was also the third Cosafa Cup triumph for the 65-year-old, who made history in 2004 after taking Zimbabwe to their first ever appearance at the Afcon finals.
In 1998, Chidzambwa guided local giants Dynamos to the finals of the CAF Champions League, the first local club to go that far in the tournament.
It has not all been glossy however for the former Warriors skipper, whose stint in the Absa Premiership in South Africa with Black Leopards did not produce the anticipated impact.
His return to the local league with ZPC Kariba also ended somewhat acrimoniously, with a leaked audio of his conversation with fellow technical committee members revealing frosty relations with the club's hierarchy.
Chidzambwa now shoulders the responsibility of guiding Zimbabwe to a second-consecutive appearance at the Afcon finals as they look to negotiate their way out of a Group G, which also includes Congo DR and Congo.
Zimbabwe visit Congo in March for their next assignment before hosting Congo DR in May. The return leg against the Congo DR is scheduled for September, and the campaign will round off with matches against Liberia and Congo in November and December.