THE SHADOW GENERAL BEHIND MNANGAGWA’S GRIP ON POWER

Zimbabwe’s crisis is not only about one man. It is about a system that survives through fear, secrecy, and force. One name that now sits at the centre of this system is Tapfumaneyi. His story shows how power in ZANU PF is protected, not by the people, but by shadows.

After leaving the CIO in 2009, Tapfumaneyi did not disappear. He was rewarded. He served as Principal Director in the Ministry of Presidential Affairs and later as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Welfare Services for War Veterans under Robert Mugabe. Even then, he remained close to power, learning how the state works from the inside.

When Emmerson Mnangagwa took power through the 2017 coup, with the strong hand of Constantino Chiwenga, Tapfumaneyi found his way back. In January 2020, he was reappointed to the CIO as co Deputy Director General. His equal was Gatsha Mazithulela, under Director General Isaac Moyo. This return was not smooth. Tapfumaneyi was seen as close to the G40 faction, making his comeback deeply divisive inside the system.

While back in the CIO, his relationship with Chiwenga became tense. Tapfumaneyi believed Chiwenga and his allies were blocking his rise. Over time, instead of siding with the army, he slowly became a key part of Mnangagwa’s intelligence machinery. His importance grew sharply during the 2023 elections, when Mnangagwa pushed Chiwenga and the army aside.

Mnangagwa feared that Chiwenga and the military could rig him out of power as their succession war inside ZANU PF intensified. He turned to the CIO. Tapfumaneyi became central to this plan. He ran the shadowy Forever Associates Zimbabwe, known as FAZ, a CIO controlled operation. Today, he is widely known as the mastermind behind FAZ.

FAZ played a dirty role in the 2023 elections. It worked through local intimidation, manipulation, and coercion. Many believe it helped secure Mnangagwa’s disputed victory. After this, the relationship between Tapfumaneyi and Chiwenga collapsed completely. The wider power fight between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga only became more violent and dangerous.

This struggle has included grenade attacks, poisoning claims, and ruthless purges. As Chiwenga raised the pressure, supported by a section of war veterans led by Blessed Geza, Tapfumaneyi became Mnangagwa’s most trusted man. Throughout 2025, Chiwenga tried to remove Mnangagwa but failed.

Under intense pressure, Mnangagwa promoted Tapfumaneyi to Major General in June last year. This was not about merit. It was about survival. Tapfumaneyi moved from the CIO back into the Zimbabwe Defence Forces with real power. In November 2025, within just six months, he was promoted again to Lieutenant General and appointed ZNA commander.

This move shocked many senior officers. Tapfumaneyi was smart and strategic, but he lacked key command and combat experience. The appointment was clearly political. It was part of Mnangagwa’s plan to block Chiwenga and protect his illegal plan to extend power beyond 2028.

What helped Tapfumaneyi was his sharp mind and further training. With guidance from Matatu, he now guarantees loyalty. Just as Mnangagwa once turned to former Zipra commanders like Sibanda to escape coups, he has again used old networks to stay alive. Zimbabwe remains trapped, ruled by fear, not law.