WATCH LIVE as Gambakwe looks at the widespread violence that has broken out in Zimbabwe during the consultation for a bill under which Mnangagwa is seeking to extend his term.
The Zimbabwe Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3) public hearings began on 30 March 2026 (with some reports of activities spilling into or being discussed on 31 March). These consultations, scheduled across various districts until early April, faced widespread reports of disruption, intimidation, and chaos, particularly where critics of the bill (which includes proposals potentially extending presidential terms or altering electoral processes) attempted to speak.
Here are the notable specific incidents reported from the hearings on/around 30-31 March 2026:
- Harare (City Sports Centre): Proceedings descended into violence and chaos. Rowdy youths (often described as ZANU-PF-aligned) forcibly shut down discussions to prevent opposition politicians and critics from speaking. Shouting matches erupted, and the meeting was disrupted as crowds blocked access to the microphone. Opposition figures, including Tendai Biti, had to be rescued by security personnel amid the unrest. Critics were reportedly drowned out by boos, heckling, and intimidation.
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Harare incidents involving physical assault and theft: Harare Lawyer, Doug Coltart was manhandled by a rowdy crowd, who also stole his mobile phone. Other opposition attendees reportedly escaped similar treatment. Videos showed chaotic scenes with crowds preventing dissenting voices from participating.
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Bulawayo: Reports of violence and intimidation, with claims of ZANU-PF deploying militia or supporters. Journalists (including from Zim GBC) were allegedly attacked. Bused-in crowds (accused of being non-local ZANU-PF supporters) packed venues, creating a barrier and manufacturing apparent consensus. Prominent opposition or independent figures, such as Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart, raised their hands repeatedly but were ignored or skipped when it was time to speak. Vendors and others were reportedly forced to attend.
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Widespread pattern across venues: Multiple hearings saw similar tactics—critics drowned out or blocked from the microphone, with accusations of coordinated efforts by ruling party supporters to silence opposition. In some locations, large numbers of attendees (sometimes bused in) led to physical confrontations. Citizens and lawyers criticized the process as flawed, partisan, and insufficiently decentralized (e.g., only one short meeting per district instead of broader ward-level consultations).
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Other reported disruptions: Clashes and shouting in Harare and elsewhere, with some videos capturing rowdy crowds shutting down proceedings. There were broader accusations of intimidation, including against groups like the National Constitutional Assembly, though specific 30-31 March incidents focused more on the hearing venues themselves. Some pro-CAB3 reports highlighted large turnouts and support in places like Bulawayo or Chitungwiza, but these were overshadowed by chaos narratives in independent coverage.
