Security Situation

Security Analysis

Overview of security situation

Zimbabwe is one of the few countries in the southern African region which has managed to enjoy peace and stability in the region since independence. [JSH1] Since 1980, Zimbabwe’s peace and stability was only threatened on a few occasions. The apartheid government’s sponsored destabilization activities, which included sending in hit squads to kill anti-apartheid activists living in Zimbabwe and sponsor insurgents mainly to sabotage the newly independent country, threatened the country’s stability in the early 1980s. The country was, however, able to deal with this threat through the deployment of its efficient intelligence and defence apparatus. From 1982 to 1987, a low-intensity civil war troubled the south-western region of the country when the government battled to contain political dissidents operating in the Matebeleland and Midlands districts. This insurgency war put the southern districts of the country under siege and cost the country about 20 000 lives, most of whom were civilians killed by government forces using heavy-handed tactics to deal with what was essentially a political problem. [JSH2] Most of the security operations mounted to deal with this threat remained confined in those southern districts of the country and therefore did not disturb peace in the rest of the country. During the same period, threats to peace and stability were also felt in the eastern parts of the country where South African-sponsored RENAMO rebels involved in war with the government of Mozambique occasionally carried out attacks against civilians and government installation across the eastern border.

Since the end of the Gukurahundi war in Matebeleland [JSH3] in 1987 and the civil war in Mozambique in 1992, the security situation in Zimbabwe remained relatively stable until the late 1990s. [JSH4] In fact, the country felt so stable that it sent one third of its armed force and equipment to fight in Africa’s multinational conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo between 1997 and 2002. But, the country’s usual peace tranquility [JSH5] was disturbed following the violent farm invasions of 2000, which accompanied the implementation of the Fast Track Land Resettlement Programme, and the politically charged 2002 Presidential election as well as the contested March 2008 election. These new developments were punctuated by violent intra-party attacks between supporters of the ruling ZANU-PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). During the 2002 election, ZANU-PF-aligned youth militia and war veterans ran a campaign of terror to shut out the MDC party from establishing itself in the rural areas. In 2008, there were reports of ZANU-PF supporters and militia assaulting suspected MDC supporters as well as political and human rights activists.

Security sector

The Zimbabwe Security sector consists of four main branches: the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), the Air-force of Zimbabwe (AFZ), the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and the Central Intelligence Organization (CIO). The President of the country is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and is assisted by: the Minister of State for Defence, Commanders of the Zimbabwe Defence[JSH6] Forces comprising the ZNA and AFZ, the Minister of Home Affairs working with the Commissioner of Police- Police comprising uniformed Police; Criminal Investigation Department; Police Intelligence and Security Inspectorate and the Police Support Unit; Minister of State Security and the Director General of the CIO[JSH7] .

The Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) was created in 1980, following the successful integration of elements of the old Rhodesian Army with the fighting units of ZANU- the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA), and ZAPU- the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA). The armed forces of Zimbabwe are composed of an army (ZNA) and a small but capable air force [JSH8] (AFZ). The ZNA currently comprises an active duty strength of about 35 000 [JSH9] men and women, following the downsizing of the force from 52 000 in the early 1990s.

The Zimbabwe Defence Forces, the joint command structure of both the Zimbabwe National Army and the Air Force of Zimbabwe, has been under the overall command of General Constantine Chiwenga since 2005, a former ZANLA combatant and 3rd commander of the army in the post-independence period. Major General Solomon Mujuru is the first black commander of the army in post-independent Zimbabwe. He retired in 1990, after serving his maximum term limit of 10 years, and was succeeded by the late General Vitalis Zvinavashe who also retired in 2003. (www.mod.gov.zw/army/zna.htm)

The ZNA is currently under the command of Lieutenant General Philip Velario Sibanda, who took over from General Constantine Chiwenga following his elevation to the post of Commander Zimbabwe Defence Forces in December 2003. Air Marshall Perence Shiri, the former commander of the 5th Brigade, notorious for committing atrocities against civilians during Gukurahundi days, is the commander of the Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ). He has been at the helm since 1992 when he succeeded Air Chief Marshall Josiah Tungamirai, the first commander of Zimbabwe’s Air Force after independence. The Defence Force Headquarters in Harare provides central planning for both the ZNA and the AFZ, and both the commander of the Air Force and the ZNA commander report to the commander of the ZDF. (www.mod.gov.zw/army/zna.htm)

In terms of reputation, Zimbabwe has some of the most adept and well-trained soldiers in Africa, who combine various organizational, training and fighting doctrines developed through their training by different international armies. These doctrines include the British doctrine imparted by the British Army training team which advised on the formation of a new army and continued to offer formal training to the newly integrated army after independence; the Chinese, Korean and Russian doctrines which were developed during the training of ZANLA and ZIPRA forces during the war. These Eastern bloc countries continued to offer specialized training to the Zimbabwean army after independence and more recently the Zimbabwe government has increasingly relied on training teams from China and North Korea after the imposition of military sanctions by Western countries.

In addition, Zimbabwe has experienced and battle-hardened soldiers in Africa, having fought in long and tough wars both before and after independence. The major wars in which Zimbabwean troops have been involved include the liberation war (1965-1979); the civil war in Mozambique (1982-1992) where Zimbabwean troops were deployed to defend the country’s trade route to Beira and also help FRELIMO against attacks by the South African sponsored RENAMO rebels; and the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (1998-2002) where an estimated 11 000 [JSH10] Zimbabwean troops were deployed, alongside Angolan and Namibian troops, to prop the beleaguered government of Laurent Kabila under attack from rebels backed by Ugandan and Rwandese forces. Zimbabwean troops have also gained experience through their involvement in UN peacekeeping missions since 1991. The ZDF troops have served in peacekeeping missions in Angola, Somalia and Rwanda amongst others (Nyambuya, 1996; Mlambo, 2003; Cilliers & Malan, 2001).

However, Zimbabwe’s experienced forces, especially veterans of the armed struggle for independence, are gradually exiting from active service on account of natural aging and death due to the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS. Almost a quarter of soldiers in the army are nearing the retirement age of 55. Towards the end of 2006, ZNA recruited a massive 3 500 youths into the army (Zimbabwe Human Development Report, 2003[JSH11] ; Financial Gazette (Harare), 27 October 2006).

The bulk of the formations are motorized, and several are more specialized. Special Forces include the Commando Regiment, the Parachute Battalion and the Special Air Service with a Boat Squadron. There is also the Mechanized Brigade, which includes the Tank Regiment and the Mechanized Regiment (IFVs). Each infantry brigade has: three infantry battalions; Reconnaissance Company; Signals Company; Mortar Battery; AA gun battery; Engineer company; Supply and transport; Workshop; Medical units.

The Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) has a total personnel estimated at about 5 000. There are three main airbases in the country: Thornhill Airbase in Gweru, which is home to air force fighter squadrons and the Pilot Training School; Manyame Air Base in Harare, the principal air force establishment and provides facilities for aircraft squadrons of differing roles, training schools for technicians, staff and academic training and security dog handlers; Suri Suri or Field Air base near Chegutu, home to air defence and regimental training. Field Air Base is also tasked with anti-air artillery and radar systems training. There are also several Forward Air Fields (FAF) like Grand Reef, Buffalo Range, Hwange and Kotwa around the country. The country’s bases have several underground armouries and other facilities in the mountain ranges around Darwendale and other secret places. (www.mod.gov.zw/airforce/airforce.htm; www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/aa-africa/zim/zim-af-bases.htm)

Over the years, the Air Force of Zimbabwe has developed into a highly effective tactical force, which is well respected on the continent. It is credited with helping defend Mozambique in its war against RENAMO rebels in the 1980s, where the AFZ was tasked with providing air support to Zimbabwean Army units deployed to Mozambique to protect the `Beira Corridor` railway link between Zimbabwe and the port of Beira, and other strategic locations in the country. The AFZ, alongside the Angolan air force, played a crucial role in defending Kinshasa from an imminent takeover by rebels backed by the Ugandan and Rwandese armies in 1998. Testimony to the quality training of the AFZ is the fact that the South African Air Force has turned to Zimbabwean instructors to meet its internal needs (Mlambo, 2003; www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/aa-africa/zim/zim-af-history.htm; News24 (SA), 17 November 2005; Sunday Times (SA), 20 November 2005).

After the initial setback of 25 July 1982, when apartheid South Africa’s destabilization agents managed to destroy ten aircraft and damage another four at Thornhill air base, the AFZ rebuilt its aerial strength through purchases from the UK, then Soviet Union and China. It has Hawker Hunters, MiG 23s, BAE Hawks, Chinese Chengdyu, F7 and Mi 35 helicopter gunship interceptors as well as a variety of helicopters. Although most planes of Western origin such as hawks have been grounded in recent years for lack of spare parts due to the EU arms embargo, the AFZ has reduced its reliance on Western arms and has acquired Chinese K-8 trainers to replace the BAE Hawks (New York Times, 24 August 2006; International Business Times, 16 September 2006).

The Zimbabwe Republic Police consists of about 20 000 officers and is headquartered in Harare. The force is organized by province, and comprises uniformed national police, the Criminal Investigation Department and Traffic police. It also includes specialist support units including the Police Support Unit or Riot Police and a Police Internal Security and Intelligence unit. Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri currently exercises overall command of the police force.

Security Issues

The main threat to Zimbabwe’s security at the moment is the economic situation, despite efforts by the new government of national unity to revive the country’s ailing economy. There have been reports of a growing number of soldiers and police deserting the service. Reports suggest that both the army and the police are increasingly finding it hard to survive on poor salaries in light of the previous hyperinflationary economic environment prevalent in the country till end 2008. The economic crisis has certainly caused a lot of restlessness among the security forces. Indiscipline has crept in, as police and other security agents increasingly become frustrated with the situation and sometimes resort to desperate measures for survival.

Some of the security forces have been implicated in high profile crimes involving large sums of money. In July 2006, for instance, two divisional intelligence officers with the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) were arrested on charges of hijacking a Zambian haulage truck loaded with copper and destined for South Africa. The two were believed to be part of a syndicate which had in the past hijacked trucks transporting precious metals in South Africa. They were also linked to a syndicate of carjackers specializing in hijackings in and around Harare. (Zimbabwejournalists.com, 6 August 2006)

In 2006 there were reports of growing dissatisfaction in the ranks of the army, soldiers sabotaging army equipment out of disgruntlement with their conditions and the partial closing of army barracks, as government battled to provide food and sufficient pay for its uniformed forces (The Standard, March 26 – April 1, 2006; Zimbabwe Independent, January 13, 2006). And at the beginning of 2007, there were reports of a standoff between army cadets and their instructors at the Zimbabwe Military Academy (ZMA) in Gweru over unfulfilled salary increment promises (SW Radio Africa News, 30 January 2007; Financial Gazette, 27 October 2006). Later on in 2007, there were reports of an attempted coup by serving and former military officer of the ZNA. The alleged coup organizers were brought before the courts in mid-June 2007. Unconfirmed media reports have suggested that senior army officers, including the deputy Commander of the Air Force of Zimbabwe, Air Vice Marshall Elson Moyo and the Army Chief of Staff (Administration and Quarter Master Staff), Major General Engelbert Rugeje, were involved in organizing the alleged coup plot (SW Radio Africa News, 8 June 2007; Zimbabwe Independent, 15 June 2007). However, of late there have been no such reports and indications are that, despite isolated clashes in November 2008, the security forces and the security situation in the country is relatively stable.