New lease of life for Zimbabwe generals

President Robert Mugabe has given a new lease of life to military generals, many of whom were nearing the retirement age of 60.

Mugabe, through Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi, yesterday reviewed upwards the retirement age for defence forces generals and other serving war veterans from 60 years to 65 years.

According to Statutory Instruments 134 and 135 of 2014 published yesterday, the new regulations by the Defence Forces Service Commission now allow officers who either are war veterans or have served continuously to retire at the age of 65.

With the new rules, generals who were nearing the retirement age of the previously gazetted 60 years have been given a fresh lease of life in the service.

Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Commander General Constantine Chiwenga, Air Force of Zimbabwe Commander Air Marshal Perrance Shiri and Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) Commander Lieutenant-General Phillip Valerio Sibanda are likely to be the biggest beneficiaries of the new regulations.

According to Google Search, Chiwenga is 58 and Shiri is 59.