Responding
to
the
brutal
attack
in
Harare
on
Professor
Lovemore
Madhuku,
the
leader
of
the
opposition
National
Constitutional
Assembly
(NCA),
and
several
other
political
activists
on
March
1,
by
armed
men
in
full
view
of
the
police,
Amnesty
International
Zimbabwe’s
Executive
Director,
Lucia
Masuka,
said:
“Professor
Lovemore
Madhuku,
Effort
Manono,
and
other
activists
from
his
party
had
gathered
for
a
meeting
when
they
were
violently
beaten
with
batons
in
the
presence
of
uniformed
police
officers.
This
violent
attack
is
a
blatant
violation
of
the
rights
to
personal
security,
freedom
of
expression,
and
peaceful
assembly.
“This
assault
is
the
latest
outrage
targeting
critics
opposed
to
changing
the
Constitution
to
allow
the
extension
of
presidential
term
limits.
Zimbabwean
authorities
must
immediately
end
the
escalating
crackdown
on
peaceful
dissent,
which
has
seen
public
meetings
banned
and
critics
brutally
attacked,
arbitrarily
detained,
and
silenced.
“Authorities
must
promptly,
thoroughly,
impartially,
independently,
transparently,
and
effectively
investigate
the
attacks
on
these
NCA
members
and
bring
to
justice
those
suspected
to
be
responsible.
Authorities
must
ensure
access
to
justice
and
effective
remedies
for
victims
and
their
families.
They
must
create
an
environment
that
guarantees
and
ensures
the
effective
exercise
of
the
human
rights
of
everyone
in
the
country,
including
the
rights
to
freedom
of
opinion,
expression,
and
peaceful
assembly,
allowing
everyone
to
peacefully
express
their
opinions
without
the
risk
of
interference,
intimidation,
attacks,
or
reprisals.”
Background
On
March
1,
2026,
armed
unidentified
men
forced
their
way
into
the
Harare
offices
of
Professor
Lovemore
Madhuku’s
political
NCA
party,
violently
interrupting
a
meeting
and
attacking
several
participants.
Zimbabwean
authorities
have
targeted
activists
opposed
to
the
extension
of
presidential
term
limits.
Political
activist
Godfrey
Karembera
has
been
in
pretrial
detention
since
his
arrest
on
October
20,
2025.
He
faces
charges
of
incitement
to
commit
public
violence
for
allegedly
distributing
flyers
ahead
of
a
protest
march
that
was
scheduled
for
October
17,
2025.
Over
90
other
activists
opposed
to
the
extension
of
term
limits
were
arrested
on
March
31,
2025
for
allegedly
gathering
with
intent
to
promote
public
violence.