HARARE — Former cabinet minister and political commentator Jonathan Moyo has become the centre of renewed political debate, with critics accusing him of seeking to curtail the Zimbabwean military’s influence through proposed constitutional amendments in revenge for events leading to the 2017 coup.
Moyo, who has lived in exile since the military-assisted transition that removed former president Robert Mugabe in 2017, has been vocal on governance, constitutionalism, and power dynamics within Zimbabwe’s political system. His recent remarks and analyses have, however, drawn sharp reactions from political observers.
Some critics allege that Moyo’s advocacy for constitutional reforms, particularly proposals affecting the role of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF), reflects unresolved tensions stemming from the 2017 events in which he, as special advisor to Mugabe family were targeted by the military during the coup.
“Moyo appears intent on restructuring the balance of power between civilian authority and the military,” said a Harare-based political analyst. “Supporters of the reforms view them as institutional strengthening, while detractors interpret them as politically motivated.”
Among the contested issues is the debate over amendments that would redefine aspects of the Defence Forces’ constitutional mandate, as well as broader proposals affecting executive authority and electoral systems.
Critics argue that such reforms could weaken both the presidency and military influence. They claim this may be linked to Moyo’s long-standing disputes with elements of the security establishment following his departure from Zimbabwe during the 2017 transition.
Moyo has previously maintained that Zimbabwe’s political history is rooted in civilian leadership rather than military control. In recent interviews, he described the 2017 intervention as an “aberration,” arguing that constitutional governance must remain paramount.
“Zimbabwe has always been led by politics, not the gun,” Moyo said in a recent media interview.
His comments have sparked counterarguments from those who contend that the military has historically played a stabilising role in the country’s political evolution.
In past interviews, Moyo also commented on internal dynamics within the ruling ZANU-PF, claiming that factionalism remains a defining challenge.
He suggested that Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s return from medical treatment in China had intensified political recalibrations within the party ZANU PF, leading to a coup that removed Mugabe from power.
Efforts to obtain official responses were unsuccessful, with presidential spokesperson George Charamba and ruling party representatives not immediately available for comment.
Political analysts say the controversy surrounding Moyo’s remarks underscores broader debates about civil-military relations, constitutional reform, and succession politics in Zimbabwe.
“Zimbabwe remains in a sensitive phase where discussions on institutional power are inevitably politicised,” said another governance expert.
Moyo, once a key figure within ZANU-PF and associated with the former Generation 40 faction, has continued to shape public discourse within Zanu PF from abroad through commentary on political developments. He is believed to be the brains behind the Sengezo Tshabangu project that destroyed the opposition, and he worked with the Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda who he is also credited for his elevation to the post of ZANU PF Secretary General.
