The
Law
Society
of
Zimbabwe
(LSZ)
has
learnt
with
grave
concern
of
the
violent
assault
on
Professor
Lovemore
Madhuku
and
several
members
of
the
National
Constitutional
Assembly
on
Sunday,
1
March
2026.
Professor
Lovemore
Madhuku
and
his
colleagues
sustained
injuries
and
had
to
receive
admission
and
medical
attention
at
a
medical
facility.
Professor
Lovemore
Madhuku
is
a
senior
member
of
the
legal
profession
in
Zimbabwe,
an
academic
of
note
and
a
citizen
of
the
country
who
stands
to
enjoy
human
rights
as
enshrined
in
our
laws.
The
LSZ
gathered
through
media
reports
that
armed
men
violently
assaulted
and
injured
Professor
Madhuku
and
his
colleagues
at
the
NCA
head
office
in
Harare.
Professor
Madhuku
is
representing
litigants
who
are
opposed
to
the
Constitution
of
Zimbabwe
Amendment
(No.
3)
before
the
Constitutional
Court.
It
is
alleged
that
the
NCA
had
scheduled
a
meeting
to
deliberate
on
their
reaction
to
the
said
Amendment
number
3.
This
comes
as
the
Speaker
of
Parliament
has
recently
gazetted
the
proposed
amendments,
initiating
a
90-day
public
consultation
period
during
which
citizens
are
entitled
to
debate,
support,
or
oppose
the
proposed
changes.
In
that
regard,
it
is
expected
that
in
a
democratic
dispensation,
divergent
views
are
expected
and
citizens
are
constitutionally
guaranteed
freedoms
such
as
peaceful
assembly
and
association,
as
well
as
free
expression.
This
incident
raises
serious
concerns
regarding
the
protection
of
constitutionally
enshrined
rights,
including
freedom
of
expression
(Section
61,
freedom
of
assembly
and
association
(Section
58),
and
freedom
of
thought,
conscience
(Section
60).
Violence
and
intimidation
undermine
the
rule
of
law
and
erode
public
confidence
in
democratic
processes
and
the
protection
of
the
law.
The
Law
Society
of
Zimbabwe
calls
upon
all
institutions
constitutionally
mandated
to
advance
the
rule
of
law
to
ensure
that
law
reform
processes
maintain
legitimacy
and
public
trust,
domestically,
regionally
and
internationally.
Furthermore,
these
institutions
are
called
upon
to
ensure
the
equal
protection
and
benefit
of
the
law
for
all
citizens,
regardless
of
political
affiliation,
in
line
with
Section
56
of
the
Constitution
of
Zimbabwe.
The
Law
Society
unequivocally
condemns
this
attack
and
reaffirms
its
commitment
to
the
rule
of
law.
In
that
ambit,
the
legal
profession
calls
for
an
investigation
into
the
identities
and
motive/s
of
the
assailants.
The
Zimbabwe
Republic
Police
is
urged
to
guarantee
free
movement,
speech,
peaceful
assembly,
association,
as
well
as
the
safety
of
citizens
during
the
consultative
phases
of
this
Amendment.