Zimbabwe National Army Command Structure

Zimbabwe National Army Command Structure – Details of Zimbabwe National Army ZNA Command Structure

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About Zimbabwe National Army Command Structure

The ZNA is hierarchically structured. It is a 3-star Headquarters commanded by a Lieutenant General who is the Commander ZNA. The Commander ZNA is deputised by 3 Major Generals appointed Chiefs of Staff. Together with the Commander they constitute the ZNA Command Element. Below this structure are 5 staff branches namely: General Staff, Training, Administration, Quartermaster and Inspectorate. General, Administration and Quartermaster Staff Branches sponsor Corps and Directorates, which are grouped according to their specialised roles as listed below:

Commissioned Officers

The ZNA lost many of its best trained and experienced officers in the early 1990s, failing to recruit or instruct enough personnel to make up for the imbalance caused by death, emigration, or retirement. By the outbreak of the Second Congo War, only a handful of the officer corps had seen action. An interim measure was the rapid promotion of troops from non-combat units, often selected for their political connections rather than leadership competence. Theoretically, promotions continue to be based on the pre-independence system, which dictates officers below the rank of lieutenant colonel pass a proficiency examination to qualify for advancement. In times of downscaling, those with poorer marks must retire or accept an immediate demotion.