A public meeting on Tuesday in Harare to discuss proposed constitutional amendments in Zimbabwe escalated into shouting, pushing and shoving with several people injured.
The changes could extend the term of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe’s 83-year-old leader.
Mnangagwa became Zimbabwe’s president after a 2017 military coup which saw long-time leader, the late Robert Mugabe, being ousted. Mnangagwa won elections in 2018 and 2023, but in both cases the results were disputed due to perceived irregularities, primarly around crackdowns on opposition candiates.
Tuesday’s meeting at a Harare sports complex turned violent when prominent human rights lawyer Doug Coltart was attacked. His cellphone was taken and his glasses were broken. This was the latest in a series of incidents forming part of a broader crackdown on critics of the proposed changes.
Coltart was assaulted by people supporting the presidential term extension as he was leaving the stadium in protest at the intimidation characterising the meeting.
Zimbabwe Communist Party general secretary Ngqatbutho Nicholas Mabhena is one of many critical of the proposed amendments and the manner in which they are being driven. They argue that the changes will approval through a national referendum.
The proposed amendments would extend Mnangagwa’s term of office which expires in 2028. It would also move the election of the president from a popular vote to Parliament and extend the terms of both the president and lawmakers from five to seven years.
Hearings which started on Monday have been characterised by critics of the amendments being shouted down, heckled and intimidated.
Mnangagwa has said that he will step down at the end of his second term in 2028, but he hasn’t publicly opposed efforts by his governing ZANU-PF party to extend it.
