ZEM attacks Tendai Biti over remarks on military intervention

The diaspora‑based Zambezia Economic Movement (ZEM) has launched a strong public attack on senior opposition politician Tendai Biti over remarks he allegedly made during a public X Spaces discussion concerning the role of the military in Zimbabwean politics.


In an open letter released on Monday, ZEM chairman Devine Mafa accused Biti of indirectly legitimising military intervention in politics by criticising efforts to prevent the armed forces from removing presidents who violate the Constitution.

According to the statement, Biti allegedly argued that the Emmerson Mnangagwa administration was introducing laws aimed at stopping the military from “disposing” of presidents who violate constitutional provisions. ZEM said such remarks were dangerous and amounted to endorsing another coup in Zimbabwe.

“A lawyer. A constitutionalist. A man who has stood in courts and Parliament defending the rule of law. Yet today, you told Zimbabwe that the military should retain the power to remove presidents,” the statement read.

The movement said that regardless of political disagreements with the government, the military should never have authority to remove elected leaders, insisting that constitutional mechanisms, Parliament and the courts must remain the only legitimate avenues for political change.

ZEM also criticised opposition politicians who supported the military‑assisted removal of former president Robert Mugabe in November 2017, saying public celebrations at the time did not amount to democratic endorsement of military intervention. The organisation argued that many Zimbabweans who flooded the streets were expressing frustration with Mugabe’s rule rather than supporting military involvement in governance.

“Their joy was harvested and repackaged as legitimacy for a military takeover,” ZEM said.

The statement further targeted Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, accusing him of being central to Zimbabwe’s cycle of military influence in politics. ZEM referenced allegations and controversies surrounding Chiwenga, including his role in the 2017 intervention, scrutiny over his academic qualifications and his political conduct in government.

The movement warned opposition leaders against encouraging Zimbabweans to look to military figures for political salvation.

“What exactly is the theory of change? Chiwenga removes Mnangagwa. Then what? Who governs? By what mandate?” the statement asked.

ZEM said Zimbabwe’s long‑standing political problems stem partly from what it called the “liberation war doctrine” — the belief that liberation struggle credentials grant certain political elites permanent entitlement to rule. The organisation argued that both ruling party and opposition figures have failed to decisively reject military influence in civilian politics since independence.

Mafa said ZEM was advocating for a civilian‑led political alternative built on constitutionalism, economic reform and democratic accountability rather than military intervention.

“If you believe in constitutionalism, stop legitimising military intervention. If you believe in democracy, stop encouraging Zimbabweans to wait for generals,” the statement said.

Neither Biti nor his representatives had publicly responded to the statement by the time of publication.