In
its
February
report,
ZPP
documented
23
violations
affecting
citizens’
rights
to
gather,
organise,
and
participate
in
governance
discussions.
Many
incidents
involved
state
interference
in
meetings
intended
to
deliberate
on
constitutional
reforms.
“The
most
serious
violations
involved
state
interference
with
lawful
public
meetings
and
civic
engagements
intended
to
discuss
constitutional
reforms,
raising
concerns
about
the
shrinking
civic
space
for
dialogue
and
dissent,”
ZPP
said.
The
report
highlights
a
pattern
of
disruptions
targeting
civic
groups
and
public
dialogues
across
the
country,
raising
fears
that
public
participation
in
key
national
processes
may
be
limited.
In
one
case,
the
Zimbabwe
Republic
Police
(ZRP)
banned
the
planned
launch
of
the
Constitutional
Defence
Forum
(CDF)
at
the
Harare
Showgrounds
on
28
February,
despite
organisers
having
notified
authorities
and
adjusted
the
venue
following
police
advice.
“The
meeting
was
intended
to
facilitate
public
discussion
on
the
constitutional
amendment
process
and
its
implications,
yet
police
issued
an
official
prohibition,
effectively
preventing
the
gathering
and
limiting
public
participation
in
governance
debates,”
ZPP
said.
Similar
restrictions
were
recorded
in
multiple
provinces.
Meetings
organised
by
civic
groups
such
as
the
Defend
the
Constitution
Platform
and
Accountability
Lab
Zimbabwe
were
barred
or
disrupted
by
police
on
procedural
grounds
linked
to
the
Maintenance
of
Peace
and
Order
Act,
despite
prior
notification.
“In
Bulawayo,
a
public
dialogue
hosted
by
the
Bulawayo
Progressive
Residents
Association,
the
Public
Policy
Research
Institute
of
Zimbabwe,
and
the
Election
Resource
Centre
to
unpack
the
constitutional
amendment
was
also
prohibited
by
police
without
clear
legal
justification,”
the
report
said.
Journalists
invited
to
a
policy
discussion
were
blocked
from
accessing
the
venue,
limiting
media
coverage
and
the
public’s
right
to
information.
Cases
of
intimidation
extended
beyond
urban
centres.
In
Binga
North
Ward
9,
a
youth
activist
was
threatened
by
traditional
leader
Jonah
Munkombwe
and
warned
that
soldiers
could
disrupt
civic
awareness
meetings,
forcing
the
cancellation
of
a
planned
peaceful
demonstration.
ZPP
also
recorded
political
coercion.
In
Murehwa,
a
meeting
convened
by
Local
Government
Minister
and
ZANU
PF
Provincial
Chairperson
for
Mashonaland
East,
Daniel
Garwe,
reportedly
pressured
religious
leaders
and
village
heads
to
mobilise
communities
in
support
of
the
ruling
party’s
political
agenda.
In
Nyanga
South
Ward
15,
a
ruling
party
councillor
allegedly
pressured
an
opposition
activist
to
defect,
threatening
exclusion
from
government
development
programmes.
In
Mutasa
South
Ward
21,
a
community
meeting
on
Chinese
mining
activities
affecting
local
water
sources
was
dispersed
after
suspected
intelligence
operatives
created
fear,
followed
by
police
intervention,
forcing
organisers
to
cancel
the
discussion.
“These
incidents
demonstrate
a
systematic
pattern
of
interference
with
citizens’
rights
to
peacefully
assemble,
associate,
and
participate
in
public
affairs,
while
also
implicating
related
rights
including
freedom
of
expression,
access
to
information,
political
participation,
and
the
right
to
engage
in
community
decision-making
without
intimidation,”
ZPP
said.
“These
violations
also
reflect
heightened
political
contestation
around
constitutional
reforms
and
governance
debates
across
provinces,”
the
report
added.