By Staff Reporter
HARARE — Opposition leader and constitutional lawyer Professor Lovemore Madhuku has alleged that uniformed police officers were present but failed to intervene when he was assaulted by unidentified men during a National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) meeting in Harare on Sunday.
Madhuku claims balaclava-clad assailants stormed the consultative meeting — convened to discuss Constitutional Amendment No. 3 — and attacked him while police officers in two vehicles nearby allegedly “did nothing” to stop the assault.
Police have denied deploying any personnel to monitor the gathering.
Madhuku, who is receiving treatment at a private hospital in the capital, removed his shirt to show journalists bruises and welts he said were inflicted with baton sticks during the attack.
“I just have pain all over, but I’m okay,” he said.
Recounting the incident, Madhuku said they had convened a National Constitutional Assembly consultative meeting bringing together leaders from across the country at their offices.
“We wanted to look at the Constitutional Amendment No. 3 and we wanted to confirm our stance that we are opposed to it and we will do everything to stop it.
“The police was there for most of the time. The five or so guys came in with balaclavas and ordered everyone to leave,” he said.
“Then they came straight for me and started beating me up.
“They were shouting that ‘you want to create problems for us.’
“They were beating me all over with baton sticks. The police were with them. There were two police vehicles there. The police did nothing. They just stayed seated there,” added Madhuku.
However, national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi dismissed the allegations, saying no officers had been deployed to oversee or monitor the meeting.
“No police personnel were deployed to oversee or monitor the meeting in question.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) is keen to know what actually transpired on the alleged attack on Professor Madhuku and his team,” Nyathi said.
The alleged assault comes amid heightened tensions over Constitutional Amendment No. 3, which critics argue is intended to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s tenure beyond its current 2028 expiry to 2030.
Opponents say the proposed changes would weaken constitutional safeguards and dilute direct electoral accountability.
The Bill, approved by Cabinet last month, proposes repealing provisions for the direct election of the president and replacing them with a system in which Members of Parliament vote jointly, while also extending presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years.
The ruling Zanu PF party has defended the reforms, while critics accuse it of using intimidation to advance changes that could circumvent constitutional limits on executive power.
Madhuku has filed an application at the Constitutional Court on behalf of six war veterans seeking to halt the amendment process.
The matter remains pending.
Sunday’s incident follows other reported cases involving activists linked to anti-amendment campaigns.
On February 26, two NCA members — Naboth Sirora and Innocent Taruona — were reportedly seized after leaving party offices following a meeting on the proposed changes.
They were allegedly blindfolded, taken to an undisclosed location, assaulted and later dumped without clothing in the Harare suburb of Highlands.
Pressure has also reportedly mounted against the Constitution Defenders Forum (CDF), a grouping formed by lawyer and former finance minister Tendai Biti.
Police last month mobilised outside Biti’s offices amid the CDF’s opposition to the amendments proceeding without a public referendum.
On February 17, CDF activist Baird Gore from Glen Norah was reportedly abducted from his home by armed men in an unmarked vehicle, blindfolded and assaulted while being interrogated about resistance to the constitutional changes.
Before Sunday’s incident, Madhuku had vowed to mobilise protests against the proposed reforms.
“You should expect to see me again in the streets.
“I’m able to do that and I will lead members of my party and I will join others who will be doing that,” he said.
