MNANGAGWA FEARS ANOTHER COUP AND STARTS BUYING LOYALTY WITH CARS

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is afraid of another coup. He came to power through one in 2017, avoided another in 2019, and now fears it could happen again. To stop this, he is changing the military command and giving out rewards to top army officers. This comes as the battle for power between him and Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, who used to lead the army, gets more serious.

Just yesterday, Mnangagwa gave more than 100 cars to the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. He said it was part of a bigger plan to give the army a total of 700 vehicles. These include buses and other transport. He said this would help improve how soldiers move. But many people believe this is just a trick to win loyalty from the military as he feels more pressure.

Mnangagwa has also removed top army officials and pushed others aside to gain more control. Some of the people who stood in his way have died — and some deaths were mysterious. All of this is making things worse in Zanu PF, the ruling party, with different groups now fighting for power.

The fight between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga is heating up. Even though the party’s conference next month is not an election, it will still be very important for what happens next. Mnangagwa’s team wants to use that meeting in Mutare to start the process of changing the constitution so he can stay in power beyond 2028. If this happens, it will be like trying to give himself a third term.

This is not the only place they will fight. The Zanu PF congress in 2027 will be another big event where the two men will try to win more control. Both of them are now working very fast to win support from the army. Chiwenga knows the army well. He was in it for 37 years and led it for 14 years. He even fought in the war for independence. Mnangagwa was not a soldier for as long, but he also has military training and was Defence Minister before.

Since taking power in 2017, Mnangagwa has been slowly breaking Chiwenga’s control of the army. He removed, promoted, or moved commanders. The goal was simple: make sure no one in the army could turn against him. The latest trick was the giving out of cars. This is one of many ways he is trying to stop a coup.

Mnangagwa is trying many things to stay in charge. He is splitting army groups so they don’t work together. Some army commanders are being paid directly to make sure they stay loyal. Many soldiers are being moved from one place to another so they cannot form strong teams. Others are promoted not because they are good, but because they are loyal.

He is also making sure military schools teach that politicians must always lead the army. Soldiers are told not to worry about pay or poor living conditions. They are told their job is to protect the Republic, not to ask questions. This is just old propaganda to control them.

Mnangagwa is using bribery, just like Mugabe did before. He gives luxury cars, money, and other rewards to army commanders. In March 2025, for example, he moved Lieutenant-General Anselem Sanyatwe from army command to become Minister of Sports. This came just before a planned uprising on March 31. That plan was linked to Chiwenga’s people.

Since 2017, Mnangagwa has made five army commanders in just eight years. Before that, one commander led for 14 years. This shows how much the army has been shaken. Many top commanders have also been sent to other countries as ambassadors to get them out of the way.

Mnangagwa has also placed loyal soldiers in police and intelligence offices. He is turning every part of the government into a tool for his control. Zimbabwe’s politics is now very military because of Zanu PF’s history and the war. The army and the ruling party work as one. Without the army, Zanu PF would be gone. That is why Mnangagwa keeps using bribes, reshuffles, and rewards to stay on top — all to stop another coup.