Senior Zimbabwean army generals have sounded the alarm over what they describe as a clandestine political plot targeting Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, warning that the country could be headed for a repeat of the 2017 military intervention that removed Robert Mugabe from power. The explosive allegations, circulating in a video report from a local media outlet, claim that a faction within the ruling ZANU-PF party, backed by elements of the security apparatus, is orchestrating a campaign to sideline Chiwenga ahead of the 2028 succession battle.
‘What we are seeing is a calculated attempt to repeat the 2017 playbook, but this time the target is the Vice President,’ said a senior political analyst at the University of Zimbabwe, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the subject. ‘The military remains the ultimate arbiter of power in Zimbabwe. If they perceive that Chiwenga is being unfairly targeted, they could act to protect their interests.’
The Fractured Command
The allegations come amid a deepening rift within ZANU-PF’s top echelons. Chiwenga, a former army general who led the 2017 coup, has been positioning himself as a natural successor to Mnangagwa, who is 81 and has not publicly stated whether he will seek another term. Mnangagwa’s inner circle, known as the ‘Team Lacoste’ faction, is reportedly wary of Chiwenga’s military backing and has been aggressively consolidating power. In recent months, several Chiwenga allies have been purged from party positions, and the Vice President’s public appearances have been scaled back.
‘The plot described by the generals is not a conspiracy theory; it’s a structural reality in ZANU-PF politics,’ said Dr. Tendai Sibanda, a Harare-based political risk consultant. ‘The 2017 precedent shows that the military will not tolerate a leadership transition that excludes their preferred candidate. The question is whether Mnangagwa can manage this succession without triggering another coup.’
