Tendai Biti vows to defy police ban

Citizens Coalition for Change (CDF) leader Tendai Biti has vowed to defy a police ban on his party's planned event, accusing ZANU-PF of hypocrisy over consultations on the contentious Constitutional Amendment Bill.

Addressing supporters, Biti said it was "ironic and hypocritical" for the ruling party to block opposition discussions on the proposed legislation while holding its own internal consultations on the same Bill.

"It is ironic and hypocritical for ZANU-PF to stop us from discussing and debating this heinous Bill when they themselves are consulting and meeting over the same Bill," Biti said.

He also condemned what he described as escalating attacks against civic and opposition figures, including an assault on a member of the National Constitution Assembly (NCA).

Biti further referenced the defacing of property linked to opposition leader Jameson Timba, as well as incidents at Mandaza House associated with academic Ibbo Mandaza and the residence of political figure Gilbert Bgwende.

He alleged that the developments point to what he termed a "de facto state of emergency," but insisted the opposition would not back down.

"They have declared a de facto state of emergency, but we can assure you we are not stopping. We are going ahead with our launch," he said.

The police ban and rising political tensions come amid growing debate over the Constitutional Amendment Bill, which has triggered sharp divisions between the ruling party and opposition groups.

Authorities had not immediately responded to Biti's remarks at the time of publication.