Tendai Biti facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tendai Laxton Biti
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Biti at Chatham House in 2013
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| Vice President of the Citizens Coalition for Change | |
| Assumed office 24 May 2019 |
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| President | Nelson Chamisa |
| Preceded by | Elias Mudzuri |
| President of the People's Democratic Party | |
| In office 10 September 2015 – 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Lucia Matibenga (Interim) |
| Minister of Finance of Zimbabwe | |
| In office 13 February 2009 – 10 September 2013 |
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| President | Robert Mugabe |
| Prime Minister | Morgan Tsvangirai |
| Preceded by | Patrick Chinamasa (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Patrick Chinamasa |
| Secretary-General of the Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai | |
| In office 31 March 2005 – 29 April 2014 |
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| President | Morgan Tsvangirai |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Douglas Mwonzora |
| Member of Parliament for Harare East |
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| In office 2000 – 29 April 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Tirivanhu Mudariki |
| Succeeded by | Terence Mukupe |
| Secretary-General of the Movement for Democratic Change | |
| In office 13 January 2000 – 31 March 2005 |
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| President | Morgan Tsvangirai |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 August 1966 Dzivarasekwa, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) |
| Political party | Movement for Democratic Change (1999–2005) Movement for Democratic Change - Tsvangirai (2005–2015) People's Democratic Party (2015–2017) Movement for Democratic Change - Tsvangirai (2017–2022) |
| Children | 5 |
| Alma mater | University of Zimbabwe |
Tendai Laxton Biti (born 6 August 1966) is a Zimbabwean politician. He served as the Finance Minister of Zimbabwe from 2009 to 2013. Currently, he is the second Vice President of the Citizens Coalition for Change political party. He also served as the Secretary-General for the Movement for Democratic Change and the Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai parties. He was a Member of Parliament for Harare East.
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Early Life and Education
Tendai Biti was born in Dzivarasekwa, Harare, which is now in Zimbabwe. He is the oldest of six children in his family. From 1980 to 1985, he went to Goromonzi High School. He was even chosen as the deputy head boy in his last year.
In 1986, he started studying law at the University of Zimbabwe. While at university, from 1988 to 1989, Biti was the Secretary General of the Student Representative Council. He helped lead student protests against the government's control over what could be taught in schools. After finishing his studies, he joined a law firm called Honey and Blackenberg. He became the youngest partner there when he was just 26 years old.
Political Journey
In 1999, Tendai Biti helped start a political party called the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). The next year, in 2000, he was elected as a Member of Parliament for the Harare East area. As a Member of Parliament, he worked on committees dealing with land, farming, water, and defense.
In 2005, he was re-elected for his constituency. He continued to serve on important committees, including one focused on the national budget and economy. During his legal career, Biti also worked on cases related to workers' rights and human rights. He represented large groups of workers, like those in the postal and telecommunications services.
In 2007, Biti was arrested along with many others, including the MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai. This happened after they attended a prayer meeting in Highfield. Later that year, Biti and another politician, Welshman Ncube, met with government ministers in South Africa. These meetings were led by the South African President Thabo Mbeki. The goal was to find ways to improve the situation in Zimbabwe.
2008 Elections and Arrest
Tendai Biti was re-elected as a Member of Parliament for Harare East in the March 2008 elections. After the election, he stayed outside Zimbabwe for a while, mostly in South Africa. This was because there was a lot of violence against supporters of the MDC party at that time.
Biti returned to Zimbabwe on 12 June 2008. He was arrested right away at the airport in Harare. Before he left South Africa, Biti said he knew he might be arrested. He stated that his only goal was "fighting for democracy" and that he needed to return to help his party. After his arrest, a police spokesperson said Biti would face charges related to a document about changing the government.
On 13 June, Biti's lawyers said they could not meet with him. They asked the High Court for help. The MDC party said they were "deeply worried" about Biti. He appeared in court on 14 June. His home was searched by police on 16 June. On 19 June, he was formally charged.
On 26 June, Biti was allowed to be released on bail. He had to pay a very large amount of money and report to the police every week. His passport was returned to him on 9 July so he could attend important talks between political parties in South Africa. He led his party's group in these discussions.
In 2018, after Zimbabwe's elections, Biti was arrested again. He was not allowed to seek safety in Zambia.
Joining the Government
On 10 February 2009, the MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, announced that Tendai Biti would become the Finance Minister in the new Government of National Unity. Even though he was not known for his financial background, he was chosen because of his important role in the MDC. He was sworn into his new role on 13 February 2009.
Returning to Law and Politics
On 20 November 2013, Biti shared that he would be opening a new law firm. This firm would focus on international finance law and legal issues within Zimbabwe.
In 2014, Biti and Tsvangirai had disagreements, and Biti was removed from the MDC-T party. In 2015, Biti joined other former MDC-T members to form a new group called MDC-Renewal. He became its secretary-general. In September 2015, this group officially became a separate party, the People's Democratic Party, and Biti was elected as its president.
In February 2019, he was found guilty of breaking an election law. This was for announcing election results before they were officially released in 2018. He had to pay a fine. In February 2022, Biti was held by police for several hours while he was campaigning for local elections in Harare.
