THE explosive audio leak between First Lady Auxillia
Mnangagwa and 1 Presidential Guard Infantry Battalion commander Samson Murombo
brings to light the escalating brinkmanship between President Emmerson
Mnangagwa and his deputy Constantino Chiwenga to effectively control the
country’s security apparatus.
In the leaked audio recording, Auxillia accused Murombo of
spying on her while plotting to topple the President through a millitary
putsch.
Since the November 2017 millitary coup, which dramatically
toppled long-time ruler Robert Mugabe, Mnangagwa and Chiwenga, who was the
commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) at the time, have been using the
millitary and other security sector instruments to checkmate each other.
The salacious audio recording is understood in the context
of the bombing incident in Bulawayo in June 2018. A suspected grenade detonated
during a Zanu PF rally at White City Stadium when Mnangagwa was leaving the
stage while other dignitaries including Chiwenga looked on.
Since the November 2017 coup, there has been heightening
disquiet within the military due to deteriorating working conditions and poor
salaries which have been eroded by spiralling inflation currently standing at
176% and unfulfilled promises after Mugabe’s fall.
On average, low-ranking soldiers are earning ZW$600, which
was the equivalent of US$60 in November 2017.
As revealed by the Zimbabwe Independent in February,
disgruntlement has been swelling within the rank and file of the military due
to worsening conditions of service.
Millitary sources say even high ranking army officers are
becoming restive and disillusioned, partly because of the unrelenting economic
crisis. Zimbabwe Independent
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