Cde Honest Vhura Hombe
President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the sprightly age of 82, in a rather curious turn of events has retired 61-year-old police chief, Godwin Matanga, and his successor Stephen Mutamba is 63 years old.
Matanga, at 61, has apparently reached the dreaded age of retirement, as dictated by some mysterious and highly flexible “age limit.”
Before, you start questioning the logic behind this, fear not government spokesperson Nick Mangwana has expertly clarified the situation.
In a statement that will go down in history as one of the finest examples of political doublethink, Mangwana assured the nation that Matanga’s departure was entirely in line with the so-called “retirement age” limit.
But wait, don’t worry about the fact that his replacement is two years older.
Nothing to see here, folks, just some routine retirement-age adjustments
It seems Zimbabwe’s aging leadership may be working with a different timeline altogether, one where age is just a number, unless, of course, you’re not sufficiently aligned with the ruling party.
Perhaps the rule is “retire at 61, but if you’re politically useful and can still show up for work, stick around until further notice.”
The irony is rich, like a fine bottle of vintage wine that could still be enjoyed by someone, maybe at 63, 82, or even 86, who knows?
This latest move follows a somewhat similar act in 2021, when President Mnangagwa, the man who is now orchestrating all this age based musical chairs, extended the tenure of Chief Justice Luke Malaba well beyond the constitutionally mandated retirement age of 70.
Despite outcry from critics who accused Mnangagwa of bending the law to keep his allies in power, the Constitutional Court ruled that Malaba’s extended reign was a “continuing contribution” to Zimbabwe’s legal system.
No word on whether this includes contributing to the legal imagination of how to bend the constitution at will.
Which brings us to Mnangagwa’s “2030” infamous agenda, a plan to see him firmly ensconced in power until, well, the earth rotates for several more years.
Mnangagwa, at 82, will be 86 in 2030, yet he’s pushing for a political future while calling for the early retirement of a Commissioner General who’s only 61.
Now, who needs consistency when you have such a robust “age is just a number” policy?
In conclusion, as Matanga bids farewell to his post, Zimbabweans are left wondering if the next appointment will be yet another political “retirement” for someone, followed by a younger “retirement-age” leader, all under the ever-watchful eye of an octogenarian president who plans to retire eventually.
Or not.
