Harare – Veteran constitutional lawyer and former Finance Minister Tendai Biti has officially announced the leadership of the Constitution Defenders Forum (CDF), outlining both local and diaspora chapters as the civic group positions itself at the centre of Zimbabwe’s constitutional debate.
Biti emphasised the importance of involving Zimbabweans abroad, saying:
…that means four million of us are in the diaspora is a very key issue and we can’t leave them. They are shareholders and stakeholders in this struggle. So we are going to have an international Central Diaspora Committee that is going to be chaired by Freeman Chari. It will have other members, Obey Sithole as the Secretary General, Makomborero Haruzivishe as the spokesperson, and other members include Henry Jaji and Mr. Chofamba.
The forum will establish federations in countries with significant Zimbabwean populations, including the United Kingdom, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Australia, and the United States. Internally, CDF plans federations in every province and chapters in every district, with branches under each chapter. The full leadership structure will be announced on the CDF website soon. Biti said:
“CDF stands for the defence of Zimbabwe’s Constitution, democratic rights, and the dignity of citizens.”
The platform comes amid rising political tensions over Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 of 2026, which proposes extending presidential and parliamentary terms, eliminating direct presidential elections, and restructuring constitutional commissions.
The launch, held under what organisers described as extraordinary and hostile circumstances created by the State
, was forced indoors after authorities blocked plans for a large public gathering. Biti and other civic leaders, including Abednico Bhebhe, David Chimhini, Jefferson Chitando, and Peter Marange, gathered to symbolically hold copies of the CDF Constitution, reaffirming their commitment to defend constitutionalism in Zimbabwe.
The forum has accused authorities of blocking meetings in Bulawayo and disrupting women leaders ahead of the launch. Despite these challenges, organisers declared:
Despite these obstacles, it is now game on. No amount of intimidation, denial of venues, or police interference will stop the growing national demand to defend the Constitution and restore democratic order.
The newly formed CDF is set to play a pivotal role in mobilising citizens and shaping the constitutional debate as Zimbabwe faces potential historic changes in its governance system.
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