Questions have been raised by some political figures and civic groups about the climate ahead of public hearings on Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3, following an incident in Harare involving constitutional lawyer Professor Lovemore Madhuku and members of his National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) party.
According to the NCA, a meeting held on Sunday was disrupted by a group of unidentified men, resulting in injuries to several attendees, including Prof Madhuku. He later sought medical attention. Images shared with the media showed visible injuries, although the full circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police said it was not involved in the alleged assault. National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said officers had not been deployed to the gathering and were seeking information on what had taken place.
“For the record, the police were not involved in the alleged incident,” he said in a statement, adding that the meeting had reportedly not been sanctioned by the relevant regulating authority due to identified “irregularities”.
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The incident comes as Parliament prepares to conduct constitutionally required public consultations on the proposed amendments to the Constitution of Zimbabwe. Under Section 328(4), Parliament must invite public input before any constitutional amendment is passed.
Last week, Parliament issued a public notice inviting citizens to attend hearings and submit written contributions on Amendment Bill No. 3.
The Bill has generated debate among political parties, legal experts and civil society groups, with differing views expressed on its implications. Government officials have said the amendment process is being conducted in accordance with constitutional procedures.
Some analysts say recent tensions could affect public confidence in the consultation process if not addressed. Political commentator Mxolisi Ncube said it was important that citizens feel secure when expressing their views on matters of national importance.
“When there are reports of disruptions linked to political discussions, it can create anxiety among members of the public,” he said.
Another commentator, Bernard Magugu, said constitutional processes require an environment that upholds freedoms of expression and assembly, as provided for in the Constitution. He called for all stakeholders to ensure that public engagement remains peaceful and lawful.
The reported disruption follows a Constitutional Court application filed by Prof Madhuku on behalf of six war veterans seeking to challenge aspects of the amendment process. The matter is currently before the courts.
In a separate development, Daniel Molokele, MP for Hwange Central, said he was briefly detained by police over the weekend following the disruption of a Constituency Development Fund project meeting. Police have not issued a detailed public statement on that incident.
Parliament is expected to proceed with its scheduled public hearings in the coming weeks. Civic organisations have encouraged citizens to participate constructively and in accordance with the law.
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