MILILITARY generals and former senior civil servants has intensified its opposition to Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 CAB3 accusing President Emmerson Mnangagwa of spearheading

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• June 02, 2026

Retired Generals, former civil servants oppose CAB3 and accuse President Mnangagwa of driving Constitutional changes

A group of retired military generals and former senior civil servants has intensified its opposition to Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3), accusing President Emmerson Mnangagwa of spearheading a constitutional amendment process that serves personal and political interests rather than the national good.

In a statement issued on Monday and signed by retired Air Marshal Henry Muchena on behalf of the group, the former officials rejected the parliamentary consultation process on CAB3, describing it as "choreographed" and alleging that citizens were pressured into signing letters supporting the proposed amendments.

The group said it had formally petitioned Parliament in March and called for a national referendum on the bill, arguing that such significant constitutional changes should be decided directly by Zimbabweans. They said their request remains unanswered.

The retired officials also revealed that they held two meetings with President Mnangagwa on 18 and 19 May in an effort to discuss their concerns about CAB3. However, they said the engagements yielded no progress.

According to the statement, the President responded to their concerns by saying, "whoever wins, wins," a remark they said demonstrated disregard for constitutional concerns raised by citizens and party members.

The group further alleged that President Mnangagwa is both the principal architect and intended beneficiary of CAB3. They also claimed businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei is financially supporting the campaign to secure the bill's passage through Parliament.

The former officials welcomed ongoing legal challenges against CAB3 before the Constitutional Court and expressed confidence that the judiciary would uphold its constitutional responsibilities without political interference.

They also voiced concern over what they described as the capture of Parliament through political and financial influence, claiming that legislators are being pressured to support the bill despite widespread public opposition.

Among the most serious allegations contained in the statement were claims that provincial party chairpersons received vehicles and payments of US$100,000 each to support CAB3. The group also alleged that a US$31 million fund had been set aside to secure parliamentary votes in favour of the bill, with individual MPs allegedly earmarked to receive US$50,000 each.

No evidence was publicly presented alongside the statement to support the allegations, and neither the President's office, the Ministry of Justice nor Tagwirei had responded to the claims at the time of publication.

The retired generals and former civil servants warned Members of Parliament against supporting CAB3, arguing that extending presidential and parliamentary terms without voter approval would amount to a violation of the Constitution.

They concluded by urging Zimbabweans across political divides to oppose the proposed amendments and defend what they described as the country's constitutional order.

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