Assault On Madhuku Damages Zimbabwe’s Image, ZHRC Says
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission has condemned the attack on Lovemore Madhuku, President of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), and some of its members during a meeting to discuss the Constitutional Amendment (No. 3) Bill. The commission said such assaults damage the image of a modern and democratic Zimbabwe.
Madhuku, who is also a lawyer, and several party members were violently attacked by unknown assailants at their Harare head office on Sunday, 1 March 2026.
In a statement on Tuesday, 3 March 2026, the ZHRC said the victims were simply exercising their constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of assembly, association, and expression. It added:
“Any act of violence or intimidation directed at individuals for participating in lawful civic engagement is a serious violation of the Constitution of Zimbabwe and undermines democratic principles and the rule of law.”
The ZHRC said that those in favour of the amendments have a democratic right to defend their views, while those opposed equally have the right to express themselves without fear of reprisals. It added:
“The ZHRC unequivocally condemns all forms of political violence and intimidation. In a constitutional democracy, citizens must be able to freely debate and express their views on legislative and constitutional matters without fear of harassment or attack.
“The protection of civic space is fundamental to Zimbabwe’s democratic governance framework. These acts of violence do not only threaten public safety and the rule of law but also tarnish the image of a modern and democratic Zimbabwean society.
“Every person has the right to life, the right to human dignity and the right to personal security which are protected in term of sections 48, 51 and 52 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.”
The ZHRC called on law enforcement to carry out a prompt, fair, and thorough investigation into the attack on Madhuku and other NCA members, as well as the suspected arson at the Southern African Political Economy Series (SAPES) Trust on 30 October 2025, and to bring those responsible to justice.
The commission said it expects the police to uphold their constitutional duty to prevent, investigate, and detect crime while protecting the public and their right to security.
It added that the State has the primary responsibility to safeguard everyone in Zimbabwe and ensure that all citizens can fully enjoy their rights.
