OPPOSITION politician Tendai Biti is set to appear before a Mutare magistrate this morning following his arrest on Saturday, in what critics say is part of an escalating crackdown on dissent.
Biti, who is also the convener of the Constitution Defenders Forum (CDF), was detained alongside the organisation’s national organiser, Morgan Ncube.
Their lawyer, Chris Ndlovu, confirmed that Biti and Ncube spent the night in custody at Mutare Central Police Station.
Both are facing a charge of contravening section 7(5) of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act, with authorities alleging they failed to notify police of a public meeting.
“Initially, four members were arrested. Two were later released, leaving Biti and Ncube in detention,” Ndlovu said.
The arrests come amid mounting opposition to the controversial Constitutional Amendment No 3 Bill, which critics say can entrench executive power and extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s influence under the so-called “ED2030” agenda.
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CDF condemned the arrests as unlawful and politically motivated, calling them “a calculated act to silence those opposed to constitutional amendments”.
Constitutional lawyer Lovemore Madhuku weighed in, stating: “We condemn the arrest of CDF convener Tendai Biti and his team in Mutare. The sole basis for their arrest is their opposition to the ED2030 constitutional Bill. This is an abuse of power. We will defeat ED2030, whatever they do.”
Recent weeks have seen other activists reportedly targeted, with rights groups raising concern over abduction and torture linked to opposition to the Bill.
CDF maintains that no law was violated, arguing that MOPA “specifically excludes private meetings from the jurisdiction” of the Zimbabwe Republic Police.