President Emmerson Mnangagwa has dismissed Retired Lieutenant General Engelbert Rugeje—one of the central figures in the 2017 military intervention that brought him to power—in what sources say is a strategic political purge targeting high-ranking military officials closely associated with Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.
Rugeje, who had been serving on the boards of the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) and the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA), was abruptly removed from both positions with the president’s full endorsement, government insiders confirmed. His dismissal is part of a broader effort to sideline individuals within state institutions who are perceived to be loyal to Chiwenga, Mnangagwa’s former military ally who has increasingly become a political rival.
According to well-placed sources, four other retired senior army officers, all reportedly aligned with the vice president, have also been quietly removed from key roles in various parastatals and government-linked agencies. These developments signal a sharp escalation in the ongoing internal power struggle within Zimbabwe’s ruling ZANU PF party.
Rugeje, once a formidable figure within the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and a former ZANU PF national political commissar, played a critical role in Operation Restore Legacy—the November 2017 military-led coup that ended Robert Mugabe’s nearly four-decade-long presidency. That operation was pivotal in facilitating Mnangagwa’s rise to the presidency, and Rugeje was among the key architects of the transition. However, in a dramatic turn of events, the unity among the coup’s masterminds has since fractured, with tensions growing between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga.
Sources within the Ministry of Defence and national intelligence community say the recent dismissals are not isolated personnel changes but part of a calculated effort to dismantle Chiwenga’s support base within both the military and the broader state apparatus. The aim, they say, is to test the vice president’s ability to retaliate or mobilize countermeasures against Mnangagwa’s tightening grip on power.
Mnangagwa Ousts Key Chiwenga Ally in Ongoing Military Purge
“This is a loyalty test,” a senior government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told ZimEye. “Those being targeted are individuals who have expressed discomfort with the president’s behind-the-scenes campaign to remain in office beyond the constitutionally allowed two terms. Mnangagwa is making it clear—if you are not with him on this agenda, you will be removed.”
Speculation has intensified in recent months that President Mnangagwa is preparing to seek an extension of his rule beyond the current constitutional limits. This move has reportedly met resistance from within his own party and the military establishment, particularly among those who had expected a power-sharing or transitional governance structure after Mugabe’s ouster. Rugeje and others in Chiwenga’s faction are believed to be among those resisting the extension bid.
When contacted for comment, General Rugeje declined to speak, directing all inquiries to the Ministry of Agriculture. At the time of publication, the Ministry’s permanent secretary had not responded to written questions sent by ZimEye.
This latest purge is fueling further criticism of Mnangagwa’s leadership, with political analysts and critics arguing that the president is consolidating power through a series of institutional purges, constitutional amendments, and strategic appointments that prioritize personal loyalty over national unity or democratic governance.
“It’s now clear Mnangagwa never intended to share power,” said one analyst familiar with Zimbabwe’s post-coup political landscape. “The 2017 promises of unity between military and civilian leaders were a smokescreen. What we are witnessing is a classic authoritarian playbook—remove rivals, reward loyalists, and entrench power by any means necessary.”
Observers say the consequences of this deepening internal rift could have far-reaching implications for Zimbabwe’s political future. The delicate balance that has held since Mugabe’s departure now appears increasingly unstable, with the potential for renewed factional conflict within ZANU PF and unrest in military ranks.
Whether Chiwenga will respond publicly or attempt to mount a political or institutional pushback remains unclear. However, insiders suggest that the vice president is carefully weighing his next move as the president continues to erode his influence.
As the power dynamics within the ruling elite continue to shift, Zimbabweans are left watching from the sidelines, bracing for what could be another turbulent chapter in the country’s political history.
