Biti warns of plan to destroy the Constitution and bring back a monarchy
Story By Staff Reporter
Tendai Biti, a member of Sungano Yevanhu, says the ZANU PF government is rushing to destroy the Constitution and turn Zimbabwe into a monarchy. His warning comes after the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Act, 2026 became law.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently declared his birthday a public holiday and named it Munhumutapa Day. Wicknell Chivayo, one of his strong backers, now calls him “Munhumutapa.” That was the title of the ruler of an ancient empire covering parts of Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
On Monday, 28 September, Biti told journalists that he and others will fight any move to create a monarchy. In his view, the people behind it have no real link to the original Munhumutapa kingdom. He called the planned monarchy a fake one.
The government says it is amending the Constitution. Biti says it is really trying to end Zimbabwe’s status as a republic. He believes the government wants to destroy the Constitution, remove the republic and put a monarchy in its place.
Zimbabwe is a republic, Biti reminded people, and many died to create it. Liberation fighters wanted “one man, one vote” and “one woman, one vote.” Representative democracy, he said, lies at the heart of a republic.
Biti also pointed to a contradiction. The government calls itself “The Second Republic,” yet it now works against republican values. He described it as a fake regime hiding behind that name.
War veterans and younger Zimbabweans will not stay quiet, he warned. Those who fought for independence and those too young to fight will not watch the state fall apart. He called the plan nonsense that goes too far.
Finally, Biti argued that the change would break the basic structure of the Constitution, which is republicanism. That would make it illegal. “Amendment” is the wrong word, he said. It would be a coup against the republic, and people will not accept it.
Reporting based on original coverage by Pindula.
