HARARE, ZIMBABWE – Retired Lieutenant General Winston Sigauke Mapuranga has issued a sharp rebuke to former Norton legislator Temba Mliswa, warning him against “misinterpreting proximity to power” as tensions mount over a proposed extension of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s rule to 2030.
In a strongly worded public statement, Mapuranga—one of several high-ranking former military figures now expressing concern—dismissed Mliswa’s criticism of retired officers who oppose the proposed extension. Mliswa, a vocal proponent of the plan, has previously dismissed critics as fostering instability. Mapuranga retorted, “You are a politician… your familiarity with soldiers does not make you a soldier. Your proximity to power does not qualify you to lecture men who spent their entire adult lives in uniform,” accusing Mliswa of overstepping into military matters.
This escalating verbal confrontation unfolds amidst heightened tensions following a petition submitted to Parliament last week by retired Air Marshal Henry Muchena. This petition, reportedly supported by war veterans and former commanders, challenges initiatives they contend would undermine the Constitution and betray the core tenets of the liberation struggle.
At the heart of the controversy is the proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill, whose principles recently received Cabinet approval. This amendment seeks to prolong President Mnangagwa’s tenure beyond his current final term and extend the lifespan of Parliament. Critics argue that such a move directly contravenes established constitutional provisions regarding presidential term limits.
Lt. Gen. Mapuranga underscored the military’s allegiance to the nation’s foundational document, stating, “A soldier’s oath is to Zimbabwe and its Constitution — not to any individual… and certainly not to any self-appointed political enforcer operating on social media.” He firmly rejected any notion that retired officers could be silenced through their association with the Reserve Force, a point Mliswa had reportedly referenced. “The Reserve Force exists to serve the Republic. It is not a mechanism for intimidating retired officers who exercise their constitutional right to speak,” Mapuranga asserted.
The retired general further accused Mliswa of veiled intimidation, cautioning that suggestions of recalling retired officers amounted to political bullying. “Threatening retired generals with recall… is not loyalty… It is the behaviour of a bully who has mistaken proximity to power for power itself,” he declared.
Mliswa has consistently defended the proposed extension, arguing it would ensure governmental continuity. He has also been critical of dissenting voices within the ruling Zanu-PF party and the military establishment, often portraying them as undermining the system they once served.
However, opponents of the amendment frequently cite Sections 91 and 328 of Zimbabwe’s Constitution, which explicitly limit presidential terms and prohibit incumbents from benefiting from constitutional changes that extend their time in office.
The ongoing dispute underscores profound fissures within Zanu-PF, with factions emerging over Resolution No. 1, a party stance widely interpreted as paving the way for Mnangagwa’s extended presidency. The military’s historical influence in Zimbabwean politics remains a significant backdrop to this debate, particularly given its pivotal role in the 2017 coup that brought Mnangagwa to power after the ousting of Robert Mugabe.
As Parliament prepares for public hearings on the contentious amendment, concerns persist that the bill could be enacted without a national referendum, a scenario critics warn could further exacerbate political instability in an already volatile nation.
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