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Authorities must investigate brutal attack on Madhuku- Amnesty International
By Staff Reporter
GLOBAL rights group Amnesty International has called on Zimbabwean authorities to investigate the brutal attack on opposition leader and constitutional law expert, Professor Lovemore Madhuku.
The violent Sunday attack on the leader of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) leader was reportedly carried out by armed men in full view of the police.
Madhuku has openly opposed the recently gazetted Constitutional Amendment Number three, which seeks to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term of office and change the presidential term from five to seven years.
In a statement, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) denied involvement in the attack.
Commenting on the incident, Amnesty International Zimbabwe’s Executive Director, Lucia Masuka, said:
“Professor Lovemore Madhuku, Effort Manono, and other activists from his party had gathered for a meeting when they were violently beaten with batons in the presence of uniformed police officers.
“This violent attack is a blatant violation of the rights to personal security, freedom of expression, and peaceful assembly.
Masuku added; “Authorities must promptly, thoroughly, impartially, independently, transparently, and effectively investigate the attacks on these NCA members and bring to justice those suspected to be responsible.
“This assault is the latest outrage targeting critics opposed to changing the Constitution to allow the extension of presidential term limits.”
Authorities have targeted activists opposed to the extension of presidential term limits.
Political activist Godfrey Karembera has been in pretrial detention since his arrest on 20 October 2025. He faces charges of incitement to commit public violence for allegedly distributing flyers ahead of a protest march that was scheduled for 17 October 2025.
Over 90 other activists opposed to the extension of term limits were arrested on 31 March 2025 for allegedly gathering with intent to promote public violence.
“Zimbabwean authorities must immediately end the escalating crackdown on peaceful dissent, which has seen public meetings banned and critics brutally attacked, arbitrarily detained, and silenced,” said Masuku.
“Authorities must ensure access to justice and effective remedies for victims and their families.
“They must create an environment that guarantees and ensures the effective exercise of the human rights of everyone in the country, including the rights to freedom of opinion, expression, and peaceful assembly, allowing everyone to peacefully express their opinions without the risk of interference, intimidation, attacks, or reprisals.”
— Zimbabwe Republic Police (@PoliceZimbabwe) March 1, 2026