Huntress
Member
- Feb 16, 2026
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Professor Lovemore Madhuku, a prominent constitutional lawyer and chair of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), was violently assaulted on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at his party’s offices in Harare during a leadership meeting, according to eyewitnesses and opposition officials.
Eyewitnesses say a group of balaclava‑clad individuals entered the NCA meeting and inflicted severe beatings on Madhuku and several party members, with police reportedly nearby but failing to intervene. Madhuku later showed journalists his bruised back and torso while receiving medical treatment.
The incident has drawn international concern as Zimbabwe grapples with heightened political conflict over Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3, a controversial proposal that would extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term and restructure presidential election processes. Critics—including Madhuku—argue the amendments undermine democratic principles.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has denied involvement in the attack, asserting that no officers were deployed to oversee the meeting and that they are investigating the circumstances.
Opposition figures, including Citizens Coalition for Change leader Nelson Chamisa, have condemned the assault as part of a broader campaign of intimidation against dissenting voices and called for accountability and respect for the rule of law.
This latest episode adds to a series of alleged assaults and abductions of opposition activists in recent weeks, raising alarm among human rights observers about the shrinking space for political expression in Zimbabwe.
