The trial of former Finance Minister and Constitution Defenders Forum (CDF) convener Tendai Biti and former Beitbridge Mayor Morgan Ncube has been postponed again, with the matter now set for 1 September 2026, more than five months after the pair was arrested.
Biti and Ncube appeared before Mutare Magistrate Honest Musiiwa on Thursday, but the trial did not start. The matter was remanded to 1 September.
The two were arrested on 21 March 2026 on allegations of convening a public meeting in Mutare without notifying the regulating authority, in contravention of Section 7(5) of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act [Chapter 11:23].
According to Prosecutor Brighton Garikai Chiromo, Biti, as the CDF convener, and Ncube, as the organisation’s national programmes director, convened a public meeting at 26B Carrington, Darlington, Mutare.
It is alleged that the meeting discussed the Constitution Amendment Bill (CAB) 3, despite the accused allegedly not being authorised to conduct public discussions on the proposed constitutional amendments.
The State also alleges that the regulating authority for Mutare Central District had not been notified of the meeting as required by law.
Following their arrest, the pair was granted US$500 bail each under strict conditions, including reporting twice weekly to the CID Law and Order section, surrendering travel documents where applicable, and not interfering with witnesses.
The case has seen a series of postponements. It was first deferred to 26 May after the State indicated it was not ready for trial. On 26 May, the matter was remanded to 16 June, before being postponed again to 16 July. When the accused returned to court on 16 July, the trial once again failed to commence, resulting in the latest postponement to 1 September 2026.
The two are represented by Chris Ndlovu of Gonese and Ndlovu Legal Practitioners.
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