Zimbabwe Arrests Key Critic of Constitutional Changes to Extend Presidential Power

Zimbabwe authorities have arrested former finance minister Tendai Biti, the most prominent opponent of proposed constitutional amendments that would extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa's rule beyond 2028. The detention marks an escalation in the government's crackdown on critics of the controversial changes that would also shift presidential elections from public voting to parliamentary selection.

HARARE, Zimbabwe — Authorities in Zimbabwe have arrested the most prominent critic of proposed constitutional changes designed to extend the presidency of 83-year-old leader Emmerson Mnangagwa beyond his current term limit. Former finance minister Tendai Biti was scheduled to face court proceedings on Monday.

The arrest represents the most significant detention to date among those opposing efforts to allow Mnangagwa to remain in power past 2028, when his current term is set to conclude, for an additional two years. Law enforcement officials have increasingly prohibited gatherings and detained individuals attempting to voice their opposition to the proposed amendments in recent months.

Biti serves as the leader of the Constitutional Defenders Forum, an organization actively campaigning against the constitutional modifications. According to CDF spokesperson Jacob Rukweza, both Biti and the group’s programs director Morgan Ncube face charges of conducting a public gathering without proper police notification. The pair were taken into custody Saturday in Mutare, located in the country’s eastern region.

Zimbabwean officials have not provided any statement regarding the arrests. However, government representatives have previously dismissed claims that they are undermining democratic reform commitments established following the end of Robert Mugabe’s lengthy reign.

Mnangagwa assumed leadership following a widely-supported military intervention that removed Mugabe from power in 2017. He has publicly stated his intention to leave office at the conclusion of his second term in 2028.

Despite these statements, Mnangagwa has not publicly challenged his ruling ZANU-PF party’s efforts to extend his tenure. His administration endorsed the amendment proposal in February before forwarding it to Parliament, where the governing party maintains majority control.

The suggested constitutional modifications would delay upcoming elections until 2030, transfer presidential selection from direct public voting to parliamentary appointment, and increase both presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years.

Biti and fellow critics argue that any constitutional change extending presidential terms requires voter approval through a referendum. However, Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi and Mnangagwa allies contend that Parliament can enact these changes without public consultation since the two-term restriction would remain intact, despite longer individual terms.

Resistance to the amendments has intensified, with legal challenges submitted to various courts. Nevertheless, organizing physical opposition gatherings has become increasingly dangerous. Amnesty International has characterized the recent arrests as part of an “escalating crackdown on peaceful dissent.”

Earlier this month, law professor and opposition leader Lovemore Madhuku required hospitalization after being assaulted by unidentified attackers he identified as police officers following a political meeting discussing the proposed amendments. Police officials denied any involvement and stated the gathering had been prohibited.

In the previous year, the offices of SAPES Trust, a research organization, were destroyed by fire just hours before the group planned to host a press conference featuring amendment opponents.

Mnangagwa secured reelection in a contested 2023 vote, though international human rights organizations documented systematic suppression of opposition politicians and their supporters by the ruling party.