Amnesty International Demands Release of Biti and Ncube Amid MOPA Charges
- Southerton Business Times
- Mar 23
- 2 min read
Mutare / London- Amnesty International has issued a stinging condemnation of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) following the targeted detention of leaders from the Constitutional Defenders Forum (CDF). While journalist Fanuel Chinowaita and lawyer Nyasha Gerald Mukonyora were released after a "prolonged" detention without charge, CDF convener Tendai Biti and programmes director Morgan Ncube remain in custody, facing formal charges under the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act.
The core of the state's case rests on the allegation that Biti and Ncube failed to "notify" the police of a public meeting. However, legal experts and Amnesty International argue that this application of MOPA contradicts the 2013 Constitution.
The Charge: Contravening MOPA by holding an unsanctioned gathering.
The Constitutional Defense: Section 58 (Freedom of Assembly and Association) and Section 59 (Freedom to Demonstrate and Petition) grant citizens the right to gather peacefully without requiring "permission," only "notification."
Amnesty’s Position: The organization maintains that the detainees were "peacefully exercising their constitutionally protected rights" and that the notification requirement is being used as a de facto ban on dissent.
The selective release of the journalist and lawyer, while keeping the political leadership of the CDF detained, is seen by observers as a strategic move to:
Isolate Leadership: Keep the primary mobilizers of the anti-Amendment Bill No. 3 movement in state custody during critical public consultation windows.
Intimidate Professionals: The temporary detention of a lawyer (Mukonyora) and a journalist (Chinowaita) serves as a warning to other professionals participating in the CDF's activities.
Delay Advocacy: With an initial court appearance scheduled for Monday, 23 March 2026, the CDF’s mobilization efforts in the Eastern Highlands have been effectively neutralized for the weekend.
All eyes are now on the Mutare Magistrate’s Court. The hearing will likely serve as a litmus test for how the judiciary handles the tension between public order statutes and the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution.
Amnesty International Tendai Biti release 2026
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