‘MARRIAGE DOESN’T CHANGE MY RANK!’ CHIWENGA’S WIFE SPEAKS OUT
Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga’s wife, Colonel Miniyothabo Baloyi, has made it clear that her marriage to one of Zimbabwe’s most senior military figures does not give her a higher rank or exempt her from military protocol.
Baloyi, a senior Zimbabwe National Army officer, said she continues to salute senior commanders because military hierarchy is determined by official rank not marriage, status or personal relationships.
Reflecting on nearly three decades in uniform, Baloyi said Defence Forces Day was an emotional reminder of her journey since joining the military at 19 in 1996. She credited the army with teaching her discipline and emotional intelligence, which helped her navigate difficult periods.
Addressing a question frequently posed by civilians, she stressed: “The wife of a VP is not a VP nor is she a general.”
She added that military seniority is not “sexually transmitted”, insisting that she attends military ceremonies as a Colonel, without special treatment because she is married to the Vice-President.