Coltart condemns assault on Madhuku

Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart has voiced strong concern over the assault on Constitutional lawyer and National Constitutional Assembly leader Lovemore Madhuku last week.

While the police have publicly distanced themselves from the incident, Madhuku and his supporters allege that law enforcement officers were responsible for the attack.

"I am appalled by the assault on Lovemore Madhuku and his colleagues. I ask the question again—why is ZANU-PF so paranoid about Constitutional Amendment Bill 3?" Mayor Coltart said.

He questioned the ruling party's actions, noting that if the proposed amendments truly enjoyed widespread support, there would be no need to ban meetings, arrest opponents, or violently target lawyers challenging the Bill in court.

"All this speaks of is a very nervous clique who know the Amendments do not enjoy national support, know they are illegal and unconstitutional, and know that if subjected to a national referendum they would be rejected out of hand by the electorate," Coltart added.

The mayor's remarks highlight growing tensions over the controversial constitutional amendments and concerns about the state of civil liberties and political expression in Zimbabwe.