Though still regarded as one of Southern Africa’s more capable forces, the Zimbabwe Defence Force (ZDF) has seen its operational capacity decline significantly over the past two decades amid chronic underfunding, sanctions, economic instability, and the retirement of experienced soldiers. Being a landlocked country, Zimbabwe’s military consists of only the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) and the Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ). Collectively, the ZDF fields approximately 29 000 active-duty personnel, with an additional 21 800 in paramilitary formations.
Despite limited resources, the ZDF retains a structured and disciplined force, supported by Chinese equipment and training. However, much of its hardware is obsolete or unserviceable due to Western sanctions, which severely limit access to spare parts and new weaponry, a problem compounded by extreme fluctuations in real-term defence spending due to ongoing economic instability. Likewise, the small domestic defence industry has all but collapsed, though the recent lifting of select sanctions has brought speculation of a possible revival of the state-run Zimbabwe Defence Industries. Though diminished, the ZDF remains a significant player in the Southern African security landscape.
Click here to read the full African Military Profile on Zimbabwe.
