The Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) has come under fire after senior officer Major General Walter Tapfumaneyi openly admitted that political affiliation plays a decisive role in army recruitment, with preference given to families loyal to the ruling Zanu-PF party.
Speaking at the Masvingo Province Traditional Leaders’ Day hosted at Chief Nhema’s homestead, Tapfumaneyi said background checks are carried out to determine political allegiance before new recruits are accepted.
“We vet families to see whether they support Musangano (Zanu-PF) or if they are among the lost (opposition). The ruling party is Zanu-PF, led by President Mnangagwa. If you follow the opposition, you will only be recruited if they take power,” he said.
He went further, comparing opposition supporters to “a neighbour’s dogs” that cannot be trusted in a hunting party, saying they might betray those they accompany.
Maj. Gen. Tapfumaneyi is no stranger to controversy. A former deputy director-general of the CIO and Permanent Secretary, he played a central role in the 2023 elections as head of Forever Associates Zimbabwe (FAZ), an organisation accused of meddling in the vote on Zanu-PF’s behalf. His return to the military’s top command reflects his lasting clout within Zimbabwe’s security structures.
At the same gathering, Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Ezra Chadzamira praised Tapfumaneyi for his contribution to Zanu-PF’s 2023 election victory, calling him a “dedicated cadre of the party.”
Chadzamira also highlighted the army’s involvement in community development—building bridges, schools, and clinics, as well as providing free medical outreach programmes in rural areas.
“The army no longer just stays in barracks. It is now working with communities to improve infrastructure and deliver health services,” Chadzamira said.
He further applauded the bond between the army and traditional leaders, claiming it stretched back to biblical times, and reminded villagers not to abuse upcoming presidential farming inputs by selling them for alcohol.
Chief Nhema, born Rangarirai Bwawanda, also thanked the military for maintaining strong ties with traditional leaders, saying such cooperation was vital for national development.
Tapfumaneyi’s blunt remarks have reignited fears about the military’s deep entanglement with Zanu-PF politics. Critics argue that openly excluding opposition supporters from recruitment undermines the constitutional requirement for the army to remain non-partisan and further entrenches the ruling party’s control over state institutions.