The National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), its president Lovemore Madhuku, and former finance minister Tendai Biti have filed an urgent High Court application accusing police of failing to protect them from alleged attacks and threats linked to their opposition to the proposed Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment No. 3 Bill.
The application, lodged at the High Court in Harare, also claims that police have disrupted private meetings and targeted the applicants as debate over the Bill escalates.
It names the Minister of Home Affairs and the Commissioner-General of the Zimbabwe Republic Police as respondents.
The applicants are seeking a declaratory order and other relief after alleging repeated interference by police and unidentified people whenever they tried to hold meetings to discuss the proposed amendments. The matter has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.
In his affidavit, Madhuku said the applicants plan to hold meetings to debate the constitutional changes during the public consultation period announced by Parliament.
He added that tensions escalated on 1 March, when NCA members gathered at Bumbiro House in central Harare for a private meeting. The building also houses Madhuku’s law firm. Said Madhuku:
“Applicants intend to meet and discuss the Constitution of Zimbabwe (Amendment) No.3 Bill of 2026.”
He argued that holding meetings to discuss the Bill is part of the public consultation process and should not put participants at risk of intimidation or violence.
The application says a meeting on 1 March at Madhuku’s offices at 348 Herbert Chitepo Street in Harare was disrupted by people described as “goons claiming to be members of ZANU PF.”
Madhuku said the group assaulted participants and made further threats against those opposing the constitutional amendment, while the police failed to intervene. He said:
“There are ongoing threats against us. The interference of the police are ongoing. Thus the acts and omissions of the police need to be arrested as a matter of urgency.”
In a supporting affidavit, Biti told the court that he and members of the Constitutional Defenders Forum had also faced disruptions while trying to organise meetings to discuss the constitutional amendment.
He said that since early March, police had stationed heavily armed officers outside his law offices in Milton Park. He said:
“A ten-ton truck is now permanently stationed opposite the offices of my practice.
“It is full of police officers armed with an assortment of weapons ranging from AK-47 rifles, truncheons and tear smoke canisters.”
The applicants say the matter is urgent because Parliament opened a 90-day public consultation period on the proposed amendment starting 16 February.
They also claim that individuals claiming to be ruling party supporters have threatened people opposing the changes, while police have failed to take action.
They are asking the High Court to order the police to ensure they can hold meetings and consultations on the proposed constitutional amendments without interference.
Pindula WhatsApp Channel
Facebook Page
Leave a Reply