Former Finance Minister Tendai Biti has rejected ZANU PF’s push to amend the Constitution to allow President Emmerson Mnangagwa to serve beyond 2028, when his current and final term in office ends.
Biti, who has held key positions in the once-vibrant opposition MDC party, does not believe in an uprising or unconstitutional change in government, but in peaceful democratic change in Zimbabwe.
He said the country is on a knife-edge and called for national dialogue and the establishment of a National Transitional Authority for a lasting solution to the problems bedeviling the country. Said Biti:
We restate for the record that we stand on the broad and principled position of constitutionalism and the rule of law.
We stand on the unquestionable aspiration to achieve peaceful democratic change in Zimbabwe. We stand on the mission of transformation and the establishment of a just modern transparent accountable equitable green and prosperous Zimbabwe.
Over the years we have pursued with vigor this dream of a New Zimbabwe. We have defended the constitution and human rights.
From the potholed lanes of the UZ to lavish chambers of the Constitutional Court, we have fought for a new Zimbabwe in the streets, in parliament, in villages, in television screens and in tons of literature.
We have been tortured imprisoned detained deported defamed and abused. But we remain firm and principled.
We draw the line on attempts to mutilate and scandalize the constitution. We are totally opposed to the Third Term agenda and it’s cousin Agenda 2030.We make no apology for this/
We firmly believe that this an agenda spurned by corruption and the need to protect lucre loot and ill begotten sachets.
Biti also strongly opposed ZANU PF’s Harare Province’s recent recommendation to appoint Kudakwashe Tagwirei to the party’s Central Committee.
War veteran Blessed Geza claimed that President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his wife, Auxillia, are planning to elevate Tagwirei to the presidency. Said Biti:
We therefore stand firmly against cartels bandits charlatans and brigands who have been looting Zimbabwe for decades.
We object to dangerous attempts to elevate some of these looters into the country’s corridors of power. We are not members of ZANU PF. We refuse to be drawn into their endless toxic factions and power struggles.
Biti also criticized former War Veterans Minister Christopher Mutsvangwa, who currently serves as ZANU PF’s spokesperson. Said Biti:
We take great exception to the drunken malicious and ill thought ramblings of the liberation pretender masquerading as their spokesperson. We ask him to come clean on his commercial interests in Manhize and other projects.
Finally we restate that the country is on a knifeedge. One created by structural economic mismanagement and the flawed 2030 Agenda.
Only Dialogue and the establishment of a National Transitional Authority can offer a lasting solution to our country. Wananchi have suffered long enough.
Back to top