Law Society of Zimbabwe condemns assault on Lovemore Madhuku

Armed men beating up a senior lawyer and constitutional activist during an active public consultation period has the Law Society of Zimbabwe demanding answers and accountability.

LSZ condemns the attack on Madhuku and NCA members

• The Law Society of Zimbabwe called out the violent assault on Professor Lovemore Madhuku and National Constitutional Assembly colleagues on March 1.
• Madhuku and several NCA members sustained injuries and were admitted to a medical facility in Harare.
• Armed men carried out the attack at the NCA head office, per media reports gathered by the LSZ.
• Madhuku is actively representing litigants opposing the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment No. 3 before the Constitutional Court.

The attack lands during a live public consultation window

• Parliament's Speaker recently gazetted the proposed amendments, kicking off a 90-day public consultation period.
• Citizens are fully entitled to debate, speak back, or push back on the proposed changes during that window.
• A democratic setup guarantees freedoms of expression, assembly, and association under Sections 58, 60, and 61 of the Constitution.
• Beating people up over constitutional views directly chips away at public trust in democratic processes.

LSZ calls for a full investigation and police accountability

• The LSZ is pushing for a probe into who carried out the attack and why.
• The Zimbabwe Republic Police is being urged to protect free movement, speech, and peaceful assembly.
• All rule-of-law institutions must ensure equal legal protection regardless of political affiliation, per Section 56.
• Legitimacy of the entire law reform process is at stake, both locally and internationally.