A public hearing on proposed constitutional changes that could extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s rule turned chaotic Tuesday in Harare, highlighting growing tensions over governance and democratic accountability in Zimbabwe.
The hearing, held at a sports complex in the capital, descended into chaos when prominent human rights lawyer Doug Coltart was attacked by a group of people chanting in support of the proposed changes. He was left bruised, his glasses broken and his phone taken, according to witnesses.
Coltart was among several critics who walked out of the meeting, citing intimidation and a lack of space for dissenting views. Across multiple hearings taking place nationwide, similar concerns have emerged, with critics reporting being shouted down, blocked from speaking or harassed.
The proposed amendments would allow Mnangagwa, 83, to remain in office for two additional years beyond his current term, which ends in 2028. They would also shift presidential elections from a direct popular vote to Parliament and extend the terms of both the president and lawmakers from five to seven years.
For many observers across Africa, the developments echo familiar tensions between constitutional reform and democratic norms, particularly around term limits and electoral processes.
The hearings are a required step before Parliament votes on the bill, but public input is not binding, raising concerns about how much influence citizens will have over the outcome.
Opposition voices say the process has been marked by intimidation. Tendai Biti, a former finance minister and leader of the Constitutional Defenders Forum, said critics have been systematically sidelined. He was recently released on bail after being detained over a meeting opposing the amendments.
Earlier this month, another opposition figure was hospitalized after an alleged assault following a meeting on the proposals. Authorities denied involvement, saying the gathering had been banned.
The government has rejected accusations of suppressing dissent, maintaining that the reform process is lawful. Mnangagwa has said he intends to step down at the end of his term in 2028, but he has not publicly challenged efforts within the ruling ZANU-PF to extend his tenure.
Mnangagwa came to power in 2017 following a military intervention that removed longtime leader Robert Mugabe. He later won elections in 2018 and 2023 that were disputed by opposition groups and criticized by international observers over alleged crackdowns on dissent.
Critics argue that any attempt to extend presidential terms should be subject to a national referendum, warning that the current proposals could weaken democratic safeguards not only in Zimbabwe but across the region.