HARARE — Dozens of armed officers from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) were stationed outside the Milton Park offices of former Finance Minister Tendai Biti on Monday, amid escalating tensions over proposed constitutional amendments that have triggered renewed political debate.
Biti, convener of the Constitution Defenders Forum (CDF), has emerged as one of the most outspoken critics of Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3, recently approved in principle by Cabinet. The proposed changes include extending the terms of both the President and Parliament from 2028 to 2030, a move critics argue would effectively alter existing term-limit provisions.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who assumed office following the 2017 military intervention that ended Robert Mugabe’s nearly four-decade rule, is constitutionally expected to retire in 2028 at the conclusion of his second term. Under Zimbabwe’s constitutional framework, amendments affecting presidential tenure typically require passage through Parliament and endorsement via national referendums. However, the current proposals have ignited controversy over whether a referendum will be pursued.
Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi presented the amendment principles to Cabinet, outlining reforms that would also reshape the presidential electoral process. Among the most contentious provisions is the proposal to abolish direct presidential elections in favour of selection by a joint sitting of Parliament — where Zanu-PF commands a two-thirds majority.
The amendments further propose transferring voter registration responsibilities from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to the Registrar General’s Office. In addition, the Bill seeks to revise judicial appointment procedures by empowering the President to appoint judges without the public interview process currently required under the 2013 Constitution.
The developments have galvanised opposition voices. Addressing journalists in Harare, Biti signalled his readiness to collaborate with former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa in resisting what he described as an erosion of constitutional safeguards.
“We are going to work with Nelson Chamisa. Up until he left politics, he was my president. So we are going to work with everyone in the fight to protect this Constitution,” Biti said.
He emphasised that defending constitutional democracy transcends political affiliations, calling for broad-based mobilisation across demographic and institutional lines.
“We would like to see women at the forefront, young people at the forefront, and millions of Zimbabweans in the diaspora working with us. All hands must be on deck,” he said.
Biti also disclosed that he had engaged constitutional law expert Lovemore Madhuku, whom he said expressed willingness to support efforts opposing the amendments.
“I spent about an hour speaking with Professor Lovemore Madhuku. We are going to work together to stop what we consider a coup on the Constitution,” he added.
Opposition leader Douglas Mwonzora similarly criticised the proposals, warning that altering the method of electing a president would undermine democratic legitimacy. Chamisa has also publicly condemned the amendments, describing them as unlawful and inconsistent with the spirit of the 2013 charter.
Student organisations have joined the debate. The Zimbabwe National Students Union (Zinasu) announced plans to mobilise lawful protests, arguing that the amendments risk weakening democratic participation and institutional checks and balances.
Meanwhile, divergent views have surfaced within opposition ranks. While CCC secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu claimed significant parliamentary backing for the reforms, some legislators have distanced themselves from the position, signalling internal fractures.
Analysts say the constitutional debate is rapidly reshaping Zimbabwe’s political landscape, reopening questions around governance, succession, and institutional stability. Even within Zanu-PF, reports of differing perspectives have emerged, with political observers closely monitoring signals from senior party figures.
As debate intensifies, the proposed amendments are poised to become a focal point of national discourse, setting the stage for what could be one of the most consequential constitutional contests since the adoption of Zimbabwe’s 2013 Constitution.