Prof Madhuku Is Free To Challenge Sean Mnangagwa’s Army Promotion In Court: Charamba Responds To Criticism
Presidential Spokesperson George Charamba has hit back at criticism over the promotion of Sean Mnangagwa, saying constitutional lawyer Lovemore Madhuku is free to challenge the decision in court if he believes it is unlawful.
The remarks follow the elevation of Sean Mnangagwa and eight other Zimbabwe National Army officers from the rank of Major to Lieutenant Colonel during an investiture ceremony on Wednesday, 29 April 2026.
Charamba Speaks Through Jamwanda Account
Charamba made the remarks in a post on his X account, @Jamwanda2, on 30 April 2026, directly responding to claims that President Emmerson Mnangagwa acted improperly.
Introducing his response, Charamba wrote:
“The usually suave and legally well-canvassed Professor Lovemore Madhuku’s claim that the President acted ‘improperly’… is legally fatuous and socially spiteful.”
He stressed that the President acts within his authority as Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Force.
“His Excellency the President… is the Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Force. In that role… he acts with total integrity and arrives at his final decision after a series of processes and recommendations.”
Charamba said the promotion procedures are routine and structured.
“There is no basis, legal or professional, to doubt those processes which occur routinely within the ZDF… against which no comebacks have ever been recorded.”
Madhuku Raises Conflict Of Interest Argument
The criticism stems from Madhuku’s comments in an interview with NewZimbabwe on 30 April 2026, in which he argued that the President should have stepped aside.
Madhuku said:
“President Mnangagwa is not legally powered to do what he has done. The promotion is null and void. He must leave that to his VPs.”
He argued that a conflict of interest arises when a public office holder makes decisions involving close relatives.
“You’re conflicted, so you would have to leave that sort of decision to a Vice President… If there is conflict of interest, the law requires that decision be taken by someone else.”
He added:
“When a biological child or a spouse is involved, the office holder cannot make decisions of that nature… that responsibility must be handled by another designated authority.”
“Challenge It In Court” – Charamba
Charamba maintained that legal avenues remain open.
“If the Professor thinks his spite finds a leg in law, he is free to challenge the promotion of any or all of those deserving Officers in a competent courtt.”
He also defended the promotion of Sean Mnangagwa, citing experience and training.
“It is spitefully beneath the learned Professor to single out one officer… in spite of many years of competent service and several courses which all the deserving officers successfully underwent.”
The presidential spokesman concluded his post by congratulating the promoted officers.
“The Office of the President and Cabinet heartily congratulates the Officers on their earned and deserved promotion.”
The promotion list included nine officers in total who were elevated from Major to Lieutenant Colonel, the sixth-highest rank in the Zimbabwe National Army.
The post Take Us To Court: Charamba Dares Madhuku Over Sean Mnangagwa Army Promotion appeared first on iHarare News.
