Zimbabwe Detains Critic Amid Constitutional Changes

0:00On March 23rd, Zimbabwe has detained former Finance Minister Tendai Biti, a top critic of proposed constitutional changes that would extend President. Emerson Maigua's rule passed 2028 and switched presidential elections from public vote to Parliament's election. The 83-year-old leader faces opposition to these moves, and Biti was set to appear in court on Monday after his arrest. Biti has a group called the Constitutional Defender's Forum, and he, along with another director, got picked up Saturday in the Eastern City of Mutare. Police accused them of holding a public meeting without prior notice, marking the latest in a string of restrictions on gatherings against the amendments. Opposition to the plans has heated up, with critics arguing any term extension needs a national referendum while government officials insist. Parliament can approve it alone since the two-term limit stays in place. Things have turned risky amid bans and arrests, drawing concern from groups like Amnesty International

1:00over a crackdown on dissent. Recent incidents highlight the tensions, including a law professor hospitalized after a beating he blamed on police, following an anti-aminment event, and the think tanks offices set ablaze before a planned press conference last year. These follow a disputed 2023 election where rights groups reported ruling party pressure on opponents. Parliament, dominated by Mangago's ZANU-PF party, is advancing the bill after cabinet approval in February, potentially delaying elections to 20. 30 and lengthening terms from five to seven years. With court challenges mounting, the standoff shows no signs of easing. That's the story for today. Global News Today, Driven by AI, I'm Cory with the Story.