MNANGAGWA’S COUP FEARS GROW AS HE BRIBES THE ARMY TO STAY IN POWER
President Emmerson Mnangagwa is living in fear of the same fate he helped engineer for Robert Mugabe. After rising to power through a military-backed coup in 2017 and surviving an attempted secret coup in 2019, Mnangagwa is now fighting for survival within his own party. His biggest threat is Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, once his ally, now his rival. The battle for power between the two men has plunged ZANU PF into quiet chaos, with Mnangagwa resorting to gifts and purges to keep the army loyal.
This week, Mnangagwa handed over more than 100 vehicles to the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. He claimed it was part of a larger plan to deliver 700 cars and buses to improve troop mobility. But few believe that story. In reality, this is another desperate attempt to buy loyalty from a restless military. The army remembers the role it played in removing Mugabe, and Mnangagwa knows they could do the same to him.
Since 2017, Mnangagwa has slowly removed top military commanders. Some were demoted, others sidelined, and a few died under suspicious circumstances. The once-powerful generals who helped him take over are now gone. General Anselem Sanyatwe, for example, was sent to Tanzania as ambassador and then quietly moved to the Ministry of Sports. His removal came after reports of a possible coup plot in March 2025. This shows how much Mnangagwa fears a repeat of history.
Meanwhile, the relationship between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga has collapsed. They once stood together in removing Mugabe, but now each wants to rule alone. Chiwenga led the army for 14 years and has deep roots in the military. Mnangagwa, a former Defence Minister, is trying to use his own links in the army to stay ahead. Their rivalry is dangerous and could lead to a political explosion before the 2028 elections.
Mnangagwa is also facing pressure from within ZANU PF. A major party meeting is set for next month in Mutare. It’s not an elective conference, but his supporters want to use it to push for a third term. The constitution says 2028 is his last year, but his allies want him to rule until 2030 or beyond. To achieve that, he needs full control of the army and no opposition from Chiwenga at the 2027 congress.
To “coup-proof” his rule, Mnangagwa is reshaping the army. He’s giving out cars, money, and top jobs to buy loyalty. He promotes those who support him, not necessarily those who are qualified. He constantly rotates people in their posts so they can’t build alliances or plot. He even places military officers in civilian roles, making sure government departments are under his watch.
He talks of patriotism and civilian rule, but it’s all a trick. Like Mugabe, he hides behind liberation war slogans while ignoring the needs of the people. Soldiers are told to protect the nation but not to ask for better salaries or conditions. It is the same playbook that failed Mugabe in the end.
Mnangagwa has also brought tribalism into the army. Promotions are based on ethnic ties, not performance. This weakens the military and increases division, but helps him stay in control. Since he came into power, Zimbabwe has had five army chiefs in just eight years. Under Mugabe, there was only one for over a decade. That shows just how unstable things have become.
ZANU PF survives because of the army. Without the military, it would collapse. Mnangagwa understands this very well. That’s why he keeps reshaping, rewarding, and watching the army like a hawk. But no matter how many cars he gives, or how many generals he moves around, history has already taught us one thing — power bought with fear never lasts.
