Mnangagwa Hands Over 102 Vehicles to Army Commanders Amid Growing Party Tensions
By Staff Reporter
President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Monday handed over 102 vehicles to senior army commanders, a move analysts say is aimed at securing military loyalty as internal divisions within Zanu PF deepen.
The Ministry of Information said the vehicles were intended to “bridge a significant gap in the conditions of service for senior army officers, ensuring they receive their entitled benefits, including vehicles, ultimately enhancing their welfare and operational effectiveness within the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF).”
At a ceremony held at the Zimbabwe National Army Msasa Logistics Garrison Depot in Harare, Mnangagwa described the handover as part of a broader programme to improve mobility across the ranks of the ZDF. Presidential spokesman George Charamba added that the military would receive more than 700 vehicles in total, calling it an unprecedented consignment within a short timeframe.
The timing of the gesture has drawn scrutiny, coming amid widening cracks in Zanu PF following the sidelining of secretary general Obert Mpofu and increasing tension between Mnangagwa and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.
“This is classic coup-proofing,” a Harare-based political analyst told *ZimLive*. “Mnangagwa knows his position is shaky, and in Zimbabwe the army remains the ultimate arbiter of political power. Providing perks to senior commanders is a way of buying loyalty as the succession battle intensifies.”
The military has long been a decisive force in Zimbabwean politics, having intervened in 2017 to depose former president Robert Mugabe and usher Mnangagwa into power with Chiwenga’s support. Now, with Chiwenga positioning himself as a reformist pushing an anti-corruption drive against business figures close to Mnangagwa, the president is seen to be relying increasingly on patronage.
In recent weeks, Zanu PF benefactors Kudakwashe Tagwirei and Wicknell Chivayo have donated more than 300 vehicles to party officials, while Chivayo is also linked to a multi-million-dollar procurement deal with the military. Neither the Defence Ministry nor the ZDF disclosed the cost of the vehicles handed over on Monday.
