Responding
to
a
point
of
privilege
in
the
House,
Acting
Speaker
Tsitsi
Zhou
said
authorities
were
putting
arrangements
in
place
to
ensure
citizens
can
participate
freely.
“Security
details
will
be
there
to
ensure
safety
for
both
citizens
and
parliamentarians
conducting
the
public
hearings,”
she
said.
The
reassurance
came
after
an
MP,
James
Makamba,
warned
of
alleged
plans
to
mobilise
groups
to
disrupt
the
outreach
programme.
“I
received
disturbing
reports
that
some
individuals
are
mobilising
thugs
to
disrupt
the
upcoming
Constitutional
Amendment
Bill
No.
3
meetings,”
he
told
the
House,
calling
for
guarantees
that
residents
would
be
able
to
express
their
views
without
intimidation.
Parliament
is
expected
to
conduct
public
hearings
across
the
country
as
part
of
a
nationwide
consultation
process
on
the
proposed
constitutional
changes.
The
hearings
are
scheduled
to
take
place
between
March
30
and
April
2,
2026.
In
Bulawayo,
the
hearings
will
be
held
on
30
March
at
the
Large
City
Hall
at
10am
and
at
Nketa
Hall
at
2pm
on
the
same
date.
The
outreach
programme
is
intended
to
gather
public
input
on
the
Bill,
which
has
sparked
debate
over
governance,
accountability
and
the
balance
of
power.
Legislators
say
ensuring
a
peaceful
environment
will
be
critical
to
maintaining
the
credibility
of
the
consultation
process.