Zimbabwe Defence Forces: Difference between revisions

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→Mozambique Civil War: edit section to simple summary noting ZDF invovement, plus redirect to {{Main}}
 
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| minister          = [[Oppah Muchinguri]]
| minister          = [[Oppah Muchinguri]]
| minister_title    = [[Ministry of Defence (Zimbabwe)|Minister of Defence]]
| minister_title    = [[Ministry of Defence (Zimbabwe)|Minister of Defence]]
| commander          = [[Philip Valerio Sibanda]]
| commander          = [[Emmanuel Matatu]]
| commander_title    = [[Chief of Defense (Zimbabwe)|Chief of Defense]]
| commander_title    = [[Chief of Defence (Zimbabwe)|Chief of Defence]]
<!-- Manpower -->
<!-- Manpower -->
| age                =
| age                =
| conscription      = N/A
| conscription      = N/A
| manpower_data      = 2017
| manpower_age      =
| available          = 5,500,000
| available_f        =
| fit                = 3,175,000
| fit_f              =
| reaching          = 310,000
| reaching_f        =
| active            = 29,000 active{{sfn|IISS|2019|p=500}}<br>21,800 paramilitary{{sfn|IISS|2019|p=500}}
| active            = 29,000 active{{sfn|IISS|2019|p=500}}<br>21,800 paramilitary{{sfn|IISS|2019|p=500}}
| ranked            = 83rd
| ranked            = 83rd
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<!-- Industrial -->
<!-- Industrial -->
| domestic_suppliers =
| domestic_suppliers =
| foreign_suppliers  = {{flag|Russia}}<br>{{China}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/24457/as-the-u-s-disengages-russia-ramps-up-aid-and-arms-sales-to-sub-saharan-africa|title=As the U.S. Disengages, Russia Ramps up Aid and Arms Sales to Sub-Saharan Africa}}</ref>
| foreign_suppliers  = {{flag|Russia}}<br>{{China}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/24457/as-the-u-s-disengages-russia-ramps-up-aid-and-arms-sales-to-sub-saharan-africa|title=As the U.S. Disengages, Russia Ramps up Aid and Arms Sales to Sub-Saharan Africa}}</ref> <br>{{flag|United States}}<br>{{flag|Israel}}<br>{{flag|Singapore}}<br>{{flag|Belgium}}<br>{{flag|United Kingdom}}
| imports            =
| imports            =
| exports            =
| exports            =
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}}
}}


The '''Zimbabwe Defence Forces''' ('''ZDF''') are the [[military forces]] responsible for the defence of [[Zimbabwe]] against external threats from other countries, and also to suppress internal armed factions. It is composed of the [[Zimbabwe National Army]] (ZNA) and the [[Air Force of Zimbabwe]] (AFZ). (As a [[landlocked country]] Zimbabwe does not have a navy). Since December 2017 the ZDF is headed by General [[Philip Valerio Sibanda]].  
The '''Zimbabwe Defence Forces''' ('''ZDF''') are the [[military forces]] responsible for the defence of [[Zimbabwe]] against external threats from other countries, and also to suppress internal armed factions. It is composed of the [[Zimbabwe National Army]] (ZNA) and the [[Air Force of Zimbabwe]] (AFZ). (As a [[landlocked country]] Zimbabwe does not have a navy). Since November 2025 the ZDF is headed by General [[Emmanuel Matatu]].  


==Ministry of Defence==
==Ministry of Defence==
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=== Mozambique Civil War ===
=== Mozambique Civil War ===
{{Main|Mozambique Civil War}}
{{Main|Mozambique Civil War}}
The [[Mozambican Civil War|Mozambique Civil War]] was a long-running conflict between the Marxist [[FRELIMO]] Government, and anti-communist [[RENAMO]] insurgents. During the 1970's, [[Central Intelligence Organisation|Rhodesian intelligence]] supported the rebel group, but in the years following the election of Robert Mugabe in 1980, the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) switched to support the [[FRELIMO]] Government, in order to protect Zimbabwe's eastern city of [[Mutare]] and the strategic railway line to Mozambique's port city of [[Beira, Mozambique|Beira]] which were being attacked by RENAMO.<ref>{{cite web |title=Zimbabwe's Military Involvement in Mozambique1982 - 1992 |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205234951/http://ccrweb.ccr.uct.ac.za/archive/defencedigest/defdigest03.html#1 |website=SACDI Defence Digest |access-date=17 May 2024}}</ref>
The [[Mozambican Civil War|Mozambique Civil War]] was a long-running conflict between the Marxist [[FRELIMO]] Government, and anti-communist [[RENAMO]] insurgents. During the 1970's, [[Central Intelligence Organisation|Rhodesian intelligence]] supported the rebel group, but in the years following the election of Robert Mugabe in 1980, the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) switched to support the [[FRELIMO]] Government, in order to protect Zimbabwe's eastern city of [[Mutare]] and the strategic railway line to Mozambique's port city of [[Beira, Mozambique|Beira]] which were being attacked by RENAMO.<ref>{{cite web |title=Zimbabwe's Military Involvement in Mozambique1982 - 1992 |url=http://ccrweb.ccr.uct.ac.za/archive/defencedigest/defdigest03.html |website=SACDI Defence Digest |access-date=17 May 2024 |archive-date=5 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205234951/http://ccrweb.ccr.uct.ac.za/archive/defencedigest/defdigest03.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>


===Operation Restore Legacy===
===Operation Restore Legacy===
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* [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-zimbabwe-politics-mugabe-specialrepor/special-report-treacherous-shenanigans-the-inside-story-of-mugabes-downfall-idUSKBN1DQ0AG Reuters Report]
* [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-zimbabwe-politics-mugabe-specialrepor/special-report-treacherous-shenanigans-the-inside-story-of-mugabes-downfall-idUSKBN1DQ0AG Reuters Report]
* Central Intelligence Organisation
* Central Intelligence Organisation
* https://www.enca.com/africa/full-statement-by-zim-army-on-state-broadcaster
* https://www.enca.com/africa/full-statement-by-zim-army-on-state-broadcaster {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171118063021/http://www.enca.com/africa/full-statement-by-zim-army-on-state-broadcaster |date=2017-11-18 }}
* [https://news.pindula.co.zw/2017/11/17/zrp-support-unit-attempted-to-arrest-general-chiwenga-when-he-returned-from-china/ Operation Restore Legacy]
* [https://news.pindula.co.zw/2017/11/17/zrp-support-unit-attempted-to-arrest-general-chiwenga-when-he-returned-from-china/ Operation Restore Legacy]


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*Abiodun Alao, 'The Metamorphosis of the Unorthodox: The Integration and Development of the Zimbabwe National Army' (chapter in book compiled by Terence Ranger, 'Soldiers in Zimbabwe's Liberation War'), 1995
*Abiodun Alao, 'The Metamorphosis of the Unorthodox: The Integration and Development of the Zimbabwe National Army' (chapter in book compiled by Terence Ranger, 'Soldiers in Zimbabwe's Liberation War'), 1995
*Norma J. Kriger, ‘Guerrilla Veterans in Post-war Zimbabwe: Symbolic and Violent Politics,’ 1980–1987, Cambridge UP, 2003
*Norma J. Kriger, ‘Guerrilla Veterans in Post-war Zimbabwe: Symbolic and Violent Politics,’ 1980–1987, Cambridge UP, 2003
*{{Cite web |last=Ministry of Defence - H/Q |date=2011 |title=The Zimbabwe Defence Forces: Resolute in defence of national gains, peace and security |url=http://www.defence.gov.zw/ |access-date=27 May 2022 |website=Ministry of Defence}}
*{{Cite web |last=Ministry of Defence - H/Q |date=2011 |title=The Zimbabwe Defence Forces: Resolute in defence of national gains, peace and security |url=http://www.defence.gov.zw/ |access-date=27 May 2022 |website=Ministry of Defence |archive-date=24 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824173133/http://www.defence.gov.zw/ |url-status=dead }}


==External links==
==External links==

Latest revision as of 18:03, 19 November 2025

Template:Short description Template:Infobox national military

The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) are the military forces responsible for the defence of Zimbabwe against external threats from other countries, and also to suppress internal armed factions. It is composed of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) and the Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ). (As a landlocked country Zimbabwe does not have a navy). Since November 2025 the ZDF is headed by General Emmanuel Matatu.

Ministry of Defence

In July 1994 the combined Zimbabwe Defence Forces Headquarters was created.

Manpower

In 2007, the Zimbabwe National Army had an estimated strength of 29,000 and the Air Force of Zimbabwe had an estimated 4,000 men assigned.[1]

History

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After a 15-year guerrilla war with black nationalist forces, culminating in a peace agreement in December 1979, Robert Mugabe became the first Prime Minister of Zimbabwe on 11 April 1980 following his ZANU–PF party winning the general election. Mugabe declared that integrating Zimbabwe's three armed forces would be one of Zimbabwe's top priorities. The existing Rhodesian Army was combined with the two guerrilla armies; the 20,000-strong Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) forces of ZANU–PF and the 15,000-strong Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) forces of PF-Zimbabwe African People's Union. A British Military Assistance and Training Team played a pivotal role in assisting the creation of the new army, and was still in place in 2000.[2] Meanwhile the Rhodesian Air Force was reorganised as the Air Force of Zimbabwe.

Mozambique Civil War

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". The Mozambique Civil War was a long-running conflict between the Marxist FRELIMO Government, and anti-communist RENAMO insurgents. During the 1970's, Rhodesian intelligence supported the rebel group, but in the years following the election of Robert Mugabe in 1980, the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) switched to support the FRELIMO Government, in order to protect Zimbabwe's eastern city of Mutare and the strategic railway line to Mozambique's port city of Beira which were being attacked by RENAMO.[3]

Operation Restore Legacy

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". In October 2017, the ZDF was involved in a coup d'état which resulted in the resignation of long-serving President Robert Mugabe and the formation of a new government under Emmerson Mnangagwa.[4]

Notes

  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". Page 299.
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Template:Cbignore
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

References

Further reading

  • Abiodun Alao, 'The Metamorphosis of the Unorthodox: The Integration and Development of the Zimbabwe National Army' (chapter in book compiled by Terence Ranger, 'Soldiers in Zimbabwe's Liberation War'), 1995
  • Norma J. Kriger, ‘Guerrilla Veterans in Post-war Zimbabwe: Symbolic and Violent Politics,’ 1980–1987, Cambridge UP, 2003
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

External links

Template:Zimbabwe topics Template:Military of Zimbabwe Template:Military of Africa

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