Retired General Mapuranga Clashes With Temba Mliswa Over Mnangagwa Term Extension Debate

Retired General Mapuranga criticises Temba Mliswa amid growing tensions over Mnangagwa’s alleged 2030 term extension plan.

Retired Lieutenant General Winston Sigauke Mapuranga has issued a sharp rebuke of former Norton MP Temba Mliswa, warning against what he described as “misinterpreting proximity to power” amid escalating tensions over President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s alleged push to extend his rule to 2030.

In a strongly worded public statement, Mapuranga dismissed Mliswa’s criticism of retired military officers opposing the proposed extension, accusing him of overstepping into matters of military doctrine and command.

“You are a politician… your familiarity with soldiers does not make you a soldier,” Mapuranga said. “Your proximity to power does not qualify you to lecture men who spent their entire adult lives in uniform.”

The exchange comes as divisions deepen within political and military circles over constitutional changes linked to Mnangagwa’s tenure. A petition submitted to Parliament by retired Air Marshal Henry Muchena has intensified scrutiny of the proposed reforms. The petition, reportedly backed by war veterans and former commanders, argues the changes would undermine constitutional safeguards and the ideals of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle.

At the centre of the dispute is the proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill, whose principles have reportedly received Cabinet approval. The measure seeks to extend the president’s tenure beyond current term limits and lengthen the lifespan of Parliament proposals, critics say, which contravene the Constitution. Mapuranga stressed that military allegiance is grounded in constitutional duty rather than political loyalty. “A soldier’s oath is to Zimbabwe and its Constitution not to any individual,” he said, adding that retired officers retain the right to speak on national issues.

He also rejected claims that retired officers could be silenced through their association with the Reserve Force, after Mliswa reportedly referenced their continued ties to military structures.

“The Reserve Force exists to serve the Republic. It is not a mechanism for intimidating retired officers,” Mapuranga said.

The retired general further accused Mliswa of veiled intimidation, warning that invoking the possibility of recall amounted to political coercion.

“Threatening retired generals with recall is not loyalty… it is the behaviour of a bully,” he said.

Mliswa has consistently defended the proposed extension, arguing it would ensure policy continuity and stability. He has also criticised dissenting voices within Zanu-PF and former military ranks, framing them as part of a system they once upheld.

However, legal experts and critics point to constitutional provisions, particularly Sections 91 and 328, which limit presidential terms and bar incumbents from benefiting from amendments that extend their tenure. The dispute underscores widening fractures within ZANU-PF, with factions emerging around internal positions seen as paving the way for extending Mnangagwa’s presidency.

Zimbabwe’s military legacy continues to shape the debate, particularly following its decisive role in the 2017 Zimbabwe coup d'état that ushered Mnangagwa into power. As Parliament prepares for public consultations on the proposed amendment, concerns persist that the process could proceed without a referendum, a move analysts warn could heighten political tensions in an already polarised environment.

Mapuranga Mliswa clash Zimbabwe constitutional amendment