Zim GBC News | Political Reporter
President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Monday commissioned the first batch of over 700 vehicles for senior military commanders, a move analysts describe as a strategic effort to secure loyalty amid growing internal party divisions.
The handover of 102 vehicles at the Zimbabwe National Army Msasa Logistics Garrison Depot comes as Mnangagwa faces escalating tensions within Zanu PF, including the sidelining of party secretary general Obert Mpofu and reported friction with Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.
“The vehicles I’m commissioning today are under the first phase of a comprehensive programme that will see the government procuring vehicles, inclusive of buses, towards enhancing mobility across the rank and file of the ZDF,” Mnangagwa said during the ceremony.
Presidency spokesman George Charamba confirmed the scale of the procurement, stating:
“All told, the ZDF will get over 700 vehicles, the first ever time that ZDF has received such a consignment within a short-time bracket.”
The Ministry of Information said the vehicles would “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.”
However, political analysts questioned the timing, linking it to ongoing succession battles within the ruling party.
“This is classic coup-proofing,” a Harare-based political analyst told Zim GBC News.
“Mnangagwa knows his position is shaky, and in Zimbabwe the army remains the ultimate arbiter of political power. Giving generals expensive perks is a way of buying their loyalty at a time when the succession battle is heating up.”
The military’s role in Zimbabwean politics has been decisive since the 2017 coup that ousted Robert Mugabe and brought Mnangagwa to power with Chiwenga’s backing.
Neither the Ministry of Defence nor the Zimbabwe Defence Forces disclosed the cost of the vehicle procurement.
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