HARARE-Former Zanu-PF Mashonaland West provincial chairman and ex-independent Norton MP, Themba Mliswa, has publicly criticised retired Air Vice-Marshal Henry Muchena (real name Jabulani Mahlangu) over his recent letter to Parliament protesting the proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill (No.3).
Muchena’s letter called for a national referendum on the amendments, which seek to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s tenure and reform Zimbabwe’s political, electoral, and governance structures. He argued that the liberation struggle established the principle that ultimate power rests with the people, and that any changes affecting presidential terms should therefore be subject to public consent.
Mliswa, a vocal ally of President Mnangagwa, dismissed Muchena’s stance as hypocritical, questioning the retired general’s claim to speak for war veterans and senior civil servants. In a detailed social media post, Mliswa accused Muchena and other retired generals of failing to advocate for ordinary war veterans during their time in positions of authority.
“The politicking begins when people cannot face up to their own gallantry and posture behind vague titles of ‘Retired Zimbabwean Generals’, dragging innocent souls in their mistimed leap for relevance,” Mliswa wrote.
He added that these leaders had previously pursued fellow war veterans, resulting in arrests, while neglecting their welfare. Mliswa said he personally intervened to support wronged veterans, highlighting the contrast between his actions and the current protests.
“Now, in the twilight of their careers, devoid of power and influence, they seek to position themselves as champions of the cause using rhetoric borrowed from the liberation struggle,” he said.
Mliswa argued that Muchena and his peers wield little influence within the current command structure and described their public interventions as politically motivated attempts to regain relevance. He concluded with a pointed Shona admonition: “Tangai mabatsira your fellow Cdes, ndipo pane mhepo dzenyu,” meaning leaders should first help their comrades before claiming to champion broader causes.
The exchange underscores ongoing tensions within Zimbabwe’s political landscape, as debates over the constitutional amendments intensify and stakeholders from across the political spectrum publicly weigh in on the legitimacy and process of proposed reforms.
Source – online