BREAKING NEWS: Retired Generals Issue Stark Warning Over Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3

By Staff Reporter
HARARE, Zimbabwe – June 2, 2026

A group of retired military generals and former senior civil servants has issued an unprecedented warning against the passage of Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3), declaring in emphatic terms that the proposed legislation "will simply not happen."

In a strongly worded press statement released on Tuesday and signed by retired Air Marshal Henry Muchena on behalf of the group, the former state officials accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa of being the "principal architect and principal beneficiary" of the controversial constitutional amendment.

The statement comes as Parliament prepares to begin formal debate on the Bill, which has sparked fierce national debate over proposals that critics argue could alter constitutional term limits and extend the tenure of elected officials.

The retired generals revealed that they held two meetings with President Mnangagwa on May 18 and 19 in an effort to persuade him to abandon the proposed amendments or submit them to a national referendum.

According to the group, the meetings failed to produce any meaningful outcome.

"When we placed before the President our caution regarding the dangers of this constitutional amendment, his response was, in his own words, 'whoever wins, wins,'" the statement reads.

The former military leaders said the response demonstrated what they described as a disregard for constitutional concerns raised by citizens and members of the ruling party.

Calls for Referendum

The group reiterated its demand that Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 be subjected to a national referendum, arguing that Parliament's public consultation process was flawed and did not accurately reflect the views of ordinary Zimbabweans.

They alleged that citizens were pressured into signing letters supporting the Bill and claimed that opposing views were largely excluded from media coverage during consultations.

"We state without equivocation that the process was choreographed, imposed upon the people, and its outcomes do not in any manner reflect the genuine will of the people of Zimbabwe," the statement said.

Corruption Allegations

In one of the most explosive sections of the statement, the retired generals alleged that large sums of money were being used to secure political support for the Bill.

They claimed to possess "credible information" suggesting that provincial political leaders received vehicles and payments of US$100,000 each in exchange for backing the constitutional amendment.

The group further alleged that a US$31 million fund had been set aside to influence parliamentary voting on the Bill, with individual Members of Parliament allegedly earmarked to receive US$50,000 each.

No evidence was publicly presented alongside the statement, and the individuals named in the allegations had not immediately responded to the claims at the time of publication.

Constitutional Court Challenge

The retired officials also confirmed that legal challenges against the Bill have already been filed before the Constitutional Court.

They expressed confidence in the judiciary and called on judges to uphold their constitutional responsibilities without political interference.

"We repose trust and confidence in the Judges and their professional commitment to their oath of office as the last institutional line of defence of our constitutional order," the statement said.

Warning to Parliament

Addressing Members of Parliament directly, the retired generals warned legislators against supporting the Bill, arguing that any attempt to extend presidential or parliamentary terms without voter approval would amount to a constitutional violation.

"The electorate is watching. History is watching. Every Zimbabwean will remember those who chose personal enrichment over constitutional duty," they said.

In perhaps the strongest language contained in the four-page statement, the group concluded:

"These are not allegations we make lightly. We make them as men and women who have served this nation with honour and who refuse to stand silently by while its constitutional foundations are sold to the highest bidder. IT WILL SIMPLY NOT HAPPEN."

The statement signals a significant escalation in opposition to Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 and sets the stage for what is expected to be a highly contentious parliamentary debate and legal battle in the coming weeks.

*Editor’s note:* The allegations contained in the retired generals' statement remain claims made by the signatories. The government, Parliament, and individuals named in the statement should be given an opportunity to respond for balanced reporting.