Who Is Sending You?”: Retired Generals warn Mliswa Over ‘Disrespectful’ Attacks

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By Desmond Nleya
In a strongly worded statement dated 18 March 2026 and signed by Air Marshal (Retired) Henry Muchena, the Retired Generals and ex-combatants warned Mliswa against what they described as attempts to manipulate public discourse using “loud and inflammatory rhetoric” aimed at undermining individuals who have long served the nation.
The group made it clear that while they are not known for responding to “noise,” Mliswa had crossed a line.
“We seldom respond to noise,” the statement reads, “but we are now compelled to respond not in anger, but because you chose to trivialise, make inflammatory and disparaging remarks on a fundamental issue.”
This comes after Temba Mliswa attacked the Generals over the letter they penned to Parliament involving Amendment Bill No. 3, which they insist should go through proper and lawful parliamentary channels.
They dismissed Mliswa’s claims and insinuations as not only misguided, but “constitutionally illiterate and disrespectful.”
In what stands out as the most hard-hitting section of the statement, the retired generals directly challenge Mliswa’s authority and legitimacy to speak on the matter.
“Who gave you the mandate to respond to us in the manner you are doing?” they demanded.
They went further, questioning his standing:
• Is he a Parliament Spokesperson?
• A Government Spokesperson?
• A Party Spokesperson?
Their conclusion was blunt: Mliswa is none of the above, but “an opposition activist” with no authority to address decorated national figures in such a manner.
The ex-combatants took particular exception to claims allegedly made by Mliswa that they were “bitter” or “jobless,” describing such remarks as deeply insulting and beneath serious discourse.
“We served this country with distinction… in battlefields, in offices of state, in the barracks and in governance,” the statement emphasized.
Reducing their contributions to bitterness, they argued, is not only false but contemptuous. They reminded Mliswa—and the nation—that their sacrifices were rooted in the liberation struggle for “one man, one vote,” a principle they insist must not be trivialised.
The tone of the statement escalates into a clear warning.
Accusing Mliswa of advancing “the interests of certain individuals” rather than the Zimbabwean people, the retired officials cautioned that any continued attacks or threats—including allegations of treason—would not be taken lightly.
“We advise you not to repeat it. Ever.”
They also rejected any attempt to intimidate them out of political engagement, asserting their historical role in mobilising citizens and shaping the very political structures Mliswa now claims to defend.
Perhaps the most symbolic warning came wrapped in a proverb:
“When you shake the baobab, be certain you can withstand what falls from it.”
The message is unmistakable—those who challenge seasoned figures of Zimbabwe’s liberation and governance history must be prepared for consequences.
The statement concludes with a stern caution not only to Mliswa but to anyone who seeks to belittle national issues for political mileage.
“Zimbabwe’s peace and security are not platforms for political grandstanding.”