Retired Generals Question CAB 3’s Constitutionality Ahead of Expected Court Challenge

A group of retired generals and former senior civil servants has issued a strongly worded statement opposing Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB 3), warning Members of Parliament against supporting what they describe as an unlawful and politically motivated attempt to extend terms of office without the direct consent of voters.

The statement, dated 2 June 2026 and issued by retired Air Marshal Henry Muchena on behalf of “Retired Generals and Former Senior Civil Servants of the Republic of Zimbabwe,” marks a significant escalation in opposition to CAB 3 from figures linked to the country’s liberation and security establishment.

In the document, the group says it previously addressed Parliament in March and called for CAB 3 to be subjected to a national referendum. It now claims that the consultative process surrounding the amendment was “choreographed” and did not reflect the genuine will of Zimbabweans.

The statement also says that two formal meetings were held with President Emmerson Mnangagwa on 18 and 19 May 2026, but that the engagements “failed to produce any results.” The group accuses the President of being the “principal architect” and “principal beneficiary” of CAB 3, and claims that the process is being sustained by business interests close to the political establishment.

In one of the most serious sections of the statement, the retired officials allege that provincial party chairpersons were induced with vehicles and payments of US$100,000 each to support CAB 3. They further allege that a US$31 million budget was discussed for the procurement of parliamentary votes, with US$50,000 allegedly approved for each MP. These claims have not been independently verified.

The group says it is closely monitoring legal proceedings before the Constitutional Court, where applications challenging the constitutionality of CAB 3 were reportedly filed on 20 May 2026. It describes the legal arguments against the amendment as “compelling” and calls on judges to act “without fear or favour.”

The statement is also notable for its direct appeal to voters. It urges Zimbabweans, regardless of political affiliation, to mobilise against MPs who support the amendment, arguing that any extension of presidential or parliamentary terms without voter consent would amount to a constitutional violation.

“We stand in full and unequivocal solidarity with every voter who has taken the constitutionally courageous step of challenging their Member of Parliament,” the statement reads.

The document concludes with a warning that the electorate is watching and that history will remember those who choose “personal enrichment over constitutional duty.”

The intervention is significant because it places senior retired military and civil service figures openly in opposition to CAB 3, framing the amendment not merely as a political dispute but as a test of Zimbabwe’s constitutional order. It also adds pressure on MPs and the courts at a time when the proposed amendment is already facing both legal and public scrutiny.