Mnangagwa appoints a new army chief amid internal ZANU-PF tensions and planned protests over attempts to extend his rule beyond 2028. Police reinforce security, while opposition within the party pushes for his replacement by Vice President Chiwenga.

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed a new army chief just days before planned nationwide demonstrations set for Monday, which have been called by a former veteran of his ruling ZANU-PF party.

Major-General Emmanuel Matatu has been named the commander of the Zimbabwe National Army with immediate effect, according to an announcement made by the Ministry of Information.

Mnangagwa is currently facing the most intense challenge to his authority since taking power in a coup eight years ago. Internal conflicts within his ruling party, coupled with growing public frustration over the deteriorating economy, have heightened tensions across the country.

On Tuesday, he demoted the army chief, Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe, to the less influential position of Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture. This marks the third major shake-up of the security apparatus, following the removal of the police chief and the head of intelligence in the lead-up to the 2023 elections.

As the planned protests draw near, the police announced on Thursday that they had reinforced their presence nationwide and would take action against anyone "inciting violence."

However, many citizens may be hesitant to participate in demonstrations, recalling the mass protests of 2017, which were initially supported by the military to oust longtime leader Robert Mugabe. Mnangagwa, who was then vice president, replaced Mugabe but is now widely seen as equally autocratic and self-serving.

This latest wave of unrest stems from efforts by a faction within ZANU-PF to extend Mnangagwa's rule beyond the constitutionally mandated two-term limit, which is set to end in 2028. The move has sparked widespread discontent, with some veterans within the party pushing for Mnangagwa to be replaced by his vice president, Constantino Chiwenga, a retired general who played a key role in orchestrating the coup against Mugabe.

Addressing the growing divisions within his party, Mnangagwa issued a stern warning at a ZANU-PF meeting this week.

"Let those barking continue barking while I am moving the country forward," he declared, dismissing his critics as "rogue delusional elements."

Despite the internal strife, the government has attempted to present a united front. "There is absolutely no fight in the government," government spokesperson Nick Mangwana told AFP on Wednesday.

However, human rights activist Abigale Mupambi cautioned that any faction seeking to remove Mnangagwa might struggle to garner the same level of public support seen in 2017, when Zimbabweans flooded the streets to celebrate Mugabe’s downfall.

"People are being very careful of being entangled in an agenda which has got nothing to do with their issues," Mupambi said.