Former MP Temba Mliswa has sparked controversy with his response to Vice President Dr. Constantino Chiwenga’s military attire, likening it to the powerless relics of Jesus Christ’s clothes left in the tomb after resurrection.
Mliswa drew parallels between the Christian narrative and Chiwenga’s situation, stating that true power lies with the individual, not the uniform. “A story is told in the Bible where Jesus rose from the dead and only the relic of his clothes remained in the tomb, historic and yet powerless as the actual power possessor had risen,” he said.
He added, “All that remained were cotton fibres and threads as power was never resident in the pristine cuts of the cloth!” Mliswa concluded with a Shona admonition, “Ndipo panonzi nevaparidzi look unto Jesus mosiya zvamachira! (This is where preachers say ‘look unto Jesus’ and they leave the clothes!).”
The analogy is seen as a commentary on the perceived performative nature of military symbolism in civilian politics, suggesting that Chiwenga’s true authority comes from his current office as Vice President, not the uniform .
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