Retired Lieutenant General Winston Sigauke Mapuranga has sharply rebuked former Norton legislator Temba Mliswa, warning him against “misinterpreting proximity to power” amid intensifying opposition to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s reported push to extend his rule to 2030.
In a strongly worded public statement, Mapuranga – one of several former senior military figures now voicing concern – dismissed Mliswa’s criticism of retired officers opposing the proposed extension. Mliswa has been an outspoken supporter of the plan, arguing critics are courting instability.
“You are a politician… your familiarity with soldiers does not make you a soldier,” Mapuranga said, accusing Mliswa of overstepping into matters of military ethos and command. “Your proximity to power does not qualify you to lecture men who spent their entire adult lives in uniform.”
The exchange comes amid growing tension within Zimbabwe’s political and military circles following a petition submitted to Parliament last week by retired Air Marshal Henry Muchena. The petition, reportedly backed by war veterans and former commanders, challenges moves they say would undermine the Constitution and betray the principles of the liberation struggle.
At the centre of the dispute is the proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill, whose principles were recently approved by Cabinet. The amendment seeks to extend Mnangagwa’s tenure beyond his current final term and lengthen the lifespan of Parliament — a move critics argue contravenes constitutional provisions.
Mapuranga emphasized that military loyalty is anchored in the Constitution rather than individuals or political factions. “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 said.
He also rejected suggestions that retired officers could be silenced through their association with the Reserve Force, after Mliswa reportedly referenced their continued ties to the military structure. “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 said.
The retired general further accused Mliswa of veiled intimidation, warning that invoking the possibility of recall 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 said.
Mliswa has consistently defended the proposed extension, arguing it would provide continuity in governance. He has also criticized dissenting voices within Zanu-PF and the military establishment, framing them as part of a system they once served.
However, critics point to Sections 91 and 328 of Zimbabwe’s Constitution, which limit presidential terms and prohibit incumbents from benefiting from constitutional amendments that extend their tenure.
The unfolding dispute highlights deepening divisions within Zanu-PF, with factions emerging over Resolution No. 1 — a party position seen as paving the way for extending Mnangagwa’s presidency.
The military’s historical role in Zimbabwean politics continues to loom over the debate. The armed forces were instrumental in the 2017 Zimbabwe coup d’état that brought Mnangagwa to power, toppling longtime leader Robert Mugabe.
As Parliament prepares for public hearings on the proposed amendment, concerns persist that the bill could be passed without a referendum — a move critics say would further inflame tensions in a country already grappling with political uncertainty.
Source – online