By Munacho Gwanda– Military tanks and trucks were spotted in several areas of Harare on Thursday afternoon, intensifying fears of an impending coup amid deepening political divisions within the ruling party.
At around 3 PM, reports surfaced of over 15 military tanks near the Central Business District (CBD), with others stationed in Hatcliffe.
Travellers heading to Domboshava were briefly halted near Glen Forest Cemetery to allow the tanks to pass.
“I counted over 17 of them,” an eyewitness told ZimEye on Thursday.
The Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) had announced on Wednesday that the presence of military tanks on the streets of Harare would continue until Thursday as part of routine drills.
Deputy Army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Tichafa Mungofa Wednesday told VOA Studio 7 that the military’s movements were part of standard exercises.
“It’s a normal exercise that the Army usually undertakes, and this is one of them. This is an ongoing exercise, and I think it will end tomorrow (Thursday),” Mungofa said.
However, the unusual deployment of military hardware has sparked anxiety, with many recalling the events leading up to the 2017 coup that led to the ousting of Robert Mugabe.
Then, tanks and military vehicles first appeared on Harare’s streets before key installations—including Parliament and police stations—were secured by soldiers.
On Thursday, Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe sought to downplay the developments, claiming that the sudden emergence of roadblocks across the country was meant to ensure public safety and curb road traffic offences.
Despite these assurances, sightings of more than 20 military tanks in the Borrowdale area on Wednesday have fueled speculation that a power struggle between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga may be reaching a boiling point.
The military intervention in 2017 was spearheaded by then-Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Commander General Constantino Chiwenga, with backing from influential military figures such as the late Air Marshal Perrence Shiri and retired General Sibusiso Moyo.
The coup was triggered by Mugabe’s decision to fire Mnangagwa as Vice President, a move widely seen as an attempt to clear the path for his wife, Grace Mugabe, to assume power.
Now, history appears to be repeating itself.
Tensions between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga have been steadily escalating, with reports of internal rifts within ZANU PF over Mnangagwa’s alleged plans to extend his rule beyond 2028 under the controversial #ED2030 agenda.
Presidential spokesperson George Charamba, Thursday posting under his pseudonym dhonzamusoro007 on social media, insisted that the movement of tanks was nothing more than standard military drills.
However, speculation persists that Chiwenga may have ordered their deployment to send a strong message to Mnangagwa.
Adding to the uncertainty, war veteran and ZANU PF Central Committee member Blessing Geza recently warned that war veterans were prepared to take drastic steps to remove Mnangagwa.
His remarks have intensified speculation that a faction within the military, still loyal to Chiwenga, could be preparing to act.
Reports suggest that senior military officials and war veterans have held clandestine meetings to strategize ways to counter Mnangagwa’s grip on power.
Sources indicate that Chiwenga’s allies accuse Mnangagwa of reneging on a 2017 coup agreement that allegedly promised Chiwenga the presidency after Mnangagwa’s first term.
Unlike Mugabe in 2017, Mnangagwa has spent years consolidating power, purging Chiwenga’s allies from both the military and government.
He has appointed loyalists to key positions and neutralized potential challengers within ZANU PF.
Additionally, several prominent figures from the 2017 coup, including Perrence Shiri and Paradzai Zimondi, have died under mysterious circumstances, fueling speculation that Mnangagwa has systematically weakened Chiwenga’s support base.
Despite these maneuvers, Chiwenga remains a formidable force within the security sector.
Reports indicate that a significant faction within the military and war veterans still consider him Zimbabwe’s rightful leader.
A recent high-level meeting in Mashonaland Central—historically a flashpoint for political upheavals—reportedly discussed growing dissatisfaction within the armed forces and the possibility of decisive action against Mnangagwa.
One insider remarked, “When credible war veterans like Blessing Geza speak, they are not hallucinating. They are sending a clear message—one that should not be ignored.”