By Political Reporter — With Vice President Constantino Chiwenga positioned to take over the presidency from Emmerson Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe stands on the brink of full military rule, bringing its political system back to a military-controlled state reminiscent of the Mugabe era.
Chiwenga, an army general who led the November 2017 coup that ousted longtime leader Robert Mugabe, is expected to ascend to power, signifying the culmination of a power struggle, sidelining Mnangagwa, the “civilian face” of the 2017 coup that initially brought him to power.
Pressured by Chiwenga’s military-backed faction, Mnangagwa has agreed to step aside in 2028, marking the resurgence of the armed forces as the proper political authority in Zimbabwe.
The military’s influence over Zimbabwe’s political landscape dates back to independence in 1980, with decades-long control of election processes.
Military and intelligence agencies have held sway over critical electoral logistics, including clandestine ballot printing.
Even the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), the body mandated to oversee elections, has operated under military and intelligence influence since the Mugabe era, as seen in the deployment of soldiers to intimidate voters and influence outcomes favouring ZANU-PF.
Mnangagwa leveraged similar tactics in the 2018 elections.
However, after the military withdrew its support, his recent 2023 campaign diverged, depending on the Central Intelligence Organization’s (CIO) affiliate, Forever Associates Zimbabwe (FAZ).
Multiple attempts on Chiwenga’s life — from the 2018 White City Stadium grenade attack to last week’s helicopter crash — underscored escalating tensions, finally reaching a head at ZANU-PF’s Bulawayo conference, where Mnangagwa ceded to Chiwenga’s rise.
Chiwenga’s supporters rallied behind his opposition to Mnangagwa’s 2030 campaign ambitions, effectively neutralizing Mnangagwa’s influence in the party.
As Zimbabwe heads into 2028 with Chiwenga poised as its leader, the country seems set to formalize its transition to military rule, with future elections likely to serve as symbolic events under an entrenched military regime.