The executive apex At the apex of power in Zimbabwe is a civilian-military alliance: President Mugabe who consults with his military commanders on most critical national and regional issues; Mnanagagwa who maintains a key security role (he has kept his intelligence network from his time as Security Minister in the 1980s) despite being appointed speaker of parliament; commander of the defence forces Vitalis Zvinavashe; Army Commander Lieutenant General Constantine Chiwenga; and Air Force Commander Air Marshal Perence Shiri (AC Vol 41 No 22)...
Constantine Chiwenga about gem looting in Mbuji-Mayi last October...
Constantine Chiwenga (Zezuru) is a respected former liberation fighter but is said to lack Shiri's ruthlessness and so is not regarded as a contender for ZDF Commander...
Constantine Chiwenga report directly to Mugabe while Mahachi shoulders the blame for mistakes such as Zimbabwe's strategy in Congo-Kinshasa (AC Vol 41 No 12)...
The Chief of Staff Vitalis Zvinavashe is Karanga but directly controls no soldiers; army commander Constantine Chiwenga and air force commander Perrence Shiri are Mugabe men...
Others from Chikomba include Charles Utete Chief Secretary to the President; Lieutenant General Constantine Chiwenga army commander; and his predecessor Solomon Mujuru now MP for Chikomba...