A Harare-based human rights activist challenging key provisions of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill in the High Court says he received a threatening parcel containing a picture of a bullet and a message on Thursday demanding that he withdraw his court application.
Youngerson Matete, who recently filed an urgent application seeking to stop the enactment of certain provisions of the Constitutional Amendment Bill without a national referendum, told CITE he remains resolute despite the apparent intimidation.
“I am shaken but fine,” Matete said when asked about his reaction to the incident.
Read: https://cite.org.zw/activist-challenges-cab3-seeks-court-to-declare-a-referendum/
Matete said unidentified individuals delivered the parcel to his residence while he was away.
“They came to my place looking for me. I was not there and they left a letter with my helper,” he said.
According to Matete, his helper said the individuals came with the package around 2 pm. The helper told him the individuals were travelling in a white Toyota Fortuner.
The parcel reportedly contained a picture of a bullet and a message instructing him to withdraw the High Court application he lodged against the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill.
Despite the incident, Matete said he has no intention of abandoning the case.
“I won’t withdraw,” he reiterated.
In an urgent chamber application filed at the High Court on 28 May 2026, Matete seeks a declaratory order that several provisions contained in the Amendment Bill cannot lawfully be enacted without first being approved through a national referendum.
Matete cited five respondents in the matter: the Parliament of Zimbabwe, the President of Zimbabwe in his official capacity, the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), and the Attorney-General of Zimbabwe.
At the time of publication, it was not immediately clear whether Matete had reported the case to the police.
The alleged threat comes as debate over the proposed constitutional amendments attracted criticism from opposition parties, civil society organisations, constitutional law experts and ordinary citizens.
However, a parliamentary committee claimed a majority of Zimbabweans who participated in nationwide consultations supported its key provisions, including removing direct presidential elections.
Chairperson of the Joint Committee, Eddison Zvobgo, said 537 102 people were in support of the proposed changes, while 2 935 opposed them.
In his founding affidavit, Matete argues that Clauses 4, 9 and 10 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill seek to alter provisions that are protected under Section 328 of the Constitution.
Section 328 sets out procedures for amending the Constitution and provides that certain entrenched constitutional provisions can only be amended after being approved by voters in a national referendum.
Matete contends the clauses in question fall within this category and that Parliament cannot lawfully proceed with the amendments without first obtaining the consent of Zimbabwean voters through a referendum.
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