Tendai Biti, an outspoken opposition politician and lawyer in Zimbabwe, was arrested in Mutare while attending a meeting organized by the Constitution Defenders Forum (CDF) to discuss the contentious Constitutional Amendment Number 3 Bill. This amendment primarily aims to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa's term of office, which has sparked significant backlash from various pro-democracy groups, including Biti's CDF. Reports indicate that Biti and several other members of the CDF were apprehended by law enforcement during their assembly to express their disapproval of the proposed legislation.

Biti, who previously served as the lawmaker for Harare East, spent the weekend in police custody following his arrest. His detention is seen as a politically motivated maneuver to suppress dissent against the government's proposed amendments. The arrest has raised concerns about political freedom and the government’s tactics to quell opposition voices amid ongoing tensions surrounding the potential constitutional changes.

As Biti and CDF programmes director Morgan Ncube prepare to appear in Mutare Magistrates Court, the CDF Youth Command has issued an appeal for solidarity and support from citizens and activists. The court appearance, scheduled for Monday, March 23, 2026, has sparked heightened scrutiny of the broader implications surrounding the constitutional amendments and the government's handling of opposition figures, as the nation remains divided over the proposed changes.