Chinhoyi University Student Leader Dylan Cole Abducted From Lecture Theatre
The Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) has raised the alarm after Dylan Cole, a Chinhoyi University student leader, was allegedly abducted from a lecture theatre.
ZINASU said Cole was attending a meeting on opposing controversial constitutional amendments before he was “captured by ZANU PF” agents and “his whereabouts are currently unknown.”
Zimbabwe’s proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 has sparked widespread controversy, as it seeks to introduce major changes to the country’s political system.
Among its most significant provisions is a shift from direct presidential elections to a system where the president would be chosen by Parliament, alongside extending terms of office from five to seven years.
The bill has drawn strong criticism from opposition groups, civil society, and legal experts, who argue that it would weaken democratic accountability by removing the public’s direct role in electing the head of state.
Critics also warn that the changes could entrench the power of incumbent leadership, including President Emmerson Mnangagwa, by potentially extending time in office.
Further concerns have been raised over the lack of a proposed national referendum, despite the scale of the constitutional changes, as well as the possibility of undermining checks and balances between branches of government.
Supporters of the bill, however, argue that the reforms could improve political stability and bring Zimbabwe closer to a parliamentary-style system of governance.
The proposal has intensified political tensions in the country, triggering public debate and opposition, with critics describing it as a fundamental shift in Zimbabwe’s democratic framework.
Lovemore Madhuku, leader of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), was assaulted while opposing the bill—an incident cited by critics as evidence of increasing hostility toward those challenging the reforms. *nehandaradio*
