HARARE – A convoy of 21 army tankers, autos, and army police autos travelling alongside Borrowdale Road had been seen earlier on Wednesday, sparking hypothesis and unease amongst residents in Zimbabwe.
The surprising presence of such a big army contingent comes at a time when the political scenario within the nation is tense.
Lynne Stactia, an X consumer posted the movies on her timeline saying, “In News today: 21 Military tankers, vehicles and military police vehicles spotted along Borrowdale Road.”
This prompted a fast response from the federal government spokesperson Nick Mangwana who acknowledged that the motion of army autos was a part of a “scheduled exercise to test equipment” and guaranteed the general public that there was “nothing to be concerned about.”
Mauto are searching for philanthropic funders!! pic.twitter.com/BhFdWhQqnk
— LynneM 💕💝💎 (@LynneStactia) February 19, 2025
The clarification, nonetheless, comes at a time of heightened political pressure inside the ruling Zanu-PF celebration.
Memories of previous army interventions, such because the 2017 coup that ousted late former Robert Mugabe, stay contemporary within the minds of many voters.
A supply near Nehanda Radio has since acknowledged that the autos have been returned to Josiah Magama Tongogara Barracks, previously generally known as KG6.
Reports of deep factionalism linked to succession disputes between President Mnangagwa and Vice President Chiwenga have turn out to be more and more frequent.
A faction of the Zanu-PF celebration linked to Mnangagwa have been calling for the extension of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s time period of workplace past the constitutionally mandated two-term restrict.
Although the President has constantly maintained that he’ll respect Zimbabwe’s Constitution and step down when his second time period ends in 2028, he has didn’t cease his supporters from pushing for his continued rule.
Addressing information editors in Harare this week, Mnangagwa maintained that he didn’t have plans to stay in workplace past 2028.
“I’m a constitutionalist. I have my two terms and when they come to an end, the country and the party will move on by electing my successor. That is clear,” he stated.
The authorities of Zimbabwe has a historical past of deploying troopers to include or intimidate protesters when civil unrest is looming.
This tactic was starkly evident on August 1, 2018, when troopers opened fireplace on post-election protesters, killing six folks and injuring dozens. The incident occurred lower than a 12 months after Mnangagwa grabbed energy from Mugabe.
