Zimbabwe's army commander says the military is opposed to the instability in the country's ruling party caused by President Robert Mugabe who last week fired a vice president.

Zimbabwe Defense Forces commander Constantino Chiwenga issued a statement Monday, days after Mugabe fired Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was widely backed by the army and was once viewed as a potential successor to the president.

Mnangagwa's sacking opens the way for Mugabe's wife, Grace, to be named a vice president at the annual conference of the ruling party, ZANU-PF, in December.

Chiwenga said "instability" in the ruling party had caused "distress, trepidation and despondence." He accused the party of expelling senior officials who participated in the 1970s war against white-minority ruled Rhodesia, saying "counter revolutionaries" are plotting to destroy the party.