By Munacho Gwanda-Notorious former war veterans’ leader and longtime Mugabe loyalist, Jabulani Sibanda, has resurfaced in Zimbabwe’s ongoing political turmoil.
Now serving as the ZANU PF Bulawayo provincial chairperson, Sibanda has waded into the intensifying power struggle between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy, Constantino Chiwenga.
While avoiding explicit factional alignment, Sibanda has raised concerns over the growing disunity within Zimbabwe, particularly among war veterans.
He warns that internal fragmentation could leave the country vulnerable to Western influence and potential recolonization.
Speaking at the launch of the Presidential War Veterans Fund, he cautioned:
“This is the time to unite. The whites will be coming soon. United States President Donald Trump has announced withdrawal from some institutions under the United Nations. Even tomorrow, due to their strength, they can re-coloniseAfrica. This is the danger that we are facing in Africa. We are full of resources, and we are in danger from countries full of nuclear weapons and injections.”
Sibanda was one of Robert Mugabe’s most vocal and aggressive enforcers during the early 2000s, leading the infamous 2007 One Million Man March in support of Mugabe’s continued rule.
As leader of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA), he played a pivotal role in orchestrating state-sponsored violence against opposition supporters, particularly during the 2008 presidential run-off election, where opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew citing deadly political repression.
Sibanda gained infamy for his inflammatory anti-Tsvangirai rhetoric, often describing the MDC leader as a puppet of Western interests.
His war veterans actively participated in violent land invasions and intimidation campaigns that targeted opposition activists and rural voters.
However, his blind loyalty to Mugabe ultimately led to his downfall—he was expelled from ZANU PF in 2014 after accusing First Lady Grace Mugabe of usurping power.
Following Mugabe’s ouster in the 2017 coup, Sibanda lay low, only to resurface in the Mnangagwa era, realigning himself with the ruling party’s structures.
Sibanda’s call for unity comes at a time when war veterans are increasingly disgruntled with Mnangagwa’s leadership.
Many see his recent financial and material incentives to former fighters as blatant attempts to secure their loyalty for an extended stay in power.
One of the most vocal critics, Blessing Geza, has openly challenged Mnangagwa to step down, arguing that war veterans should not be used as pawns to sustain a failing government.
Geza and other veterans believe that the current administration has failed to deliver on promises made to those who fought for the country’s independence, with many of them still living in poverty.
In response to the unrest, Sibanda has urged war veterans to remain united and resist division. He specifically called on Cephas Ncube, leader of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association, to spearhead efforts to consolidate the movement.
“We are tasking you, Ncube, to move around and meet all war veterans and preach unity. Those war veterans who view things in a different way—I have nothing against them—but I call on them to consider unity.”
As tensions rise, Mnangagwa has moved swiftly to placate war veterans through financial handouts.
At the recent launch of the Presidential War Veterans Fund in Bulawayo, veterans were showered with cash and gifts.
The Special Presidential Investment Advisor to the United Arab Emirates, Paul Tungwarara, handed out US$200 and a hamper to each veteran.
Additionally, Mnangagwa announced that each of Zimbabwe’s ten provinces would receive US$150,000 to support short-term projects benefiting former fighters.
Despite these measures, dissatisfaction remains rife within the ranks of the war veterans.
Many argue that Mnangagwa’s gestures are mere band-aid solutions that fail to address deeper economic hardships and governance failures.