AS the Senate rushed to pass the divisive Constitution Amendment No 3 Bill (CAB 3) this week, state agents were renewing a violent crackdown on opponents of moves to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term by two years without the consent of voters.
Vocal members of the Tendai Biti-led Constitution Defenders Forum (CDF) have emerged as the main victims of the vicious attack on liberties.
On Tuesday, police stormed the home of the CDF’s Harare director for programmes, Paul Gorekore, and arrested him in connection with his work opposing CAB 3.
Hours later, armed police officers stormed the CDF offices in Harare in a midnight raid on Tuesday.
The officers, who arrived in two pick-up trucks, forced entry into the premises, which are located in the same building as Biti’s law chambers — and seized campaign material, including T-shirts and flyers being used to oppose the Bill.
Early this week, former opposition legislator Amos Chibaya reported receiving an anonymous death threat.
According to a police report filed at Milton Park Police Station, Chibaya received a chilling text message warning that if a planned political meeting went ahead, he would “die from arson”.
The meeting was intended to discuss the political situation surrounding the controversial CAB 3.
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Freeman Chari, CDF spokesperson, raised the alarm about the crackdown, saying another official’s home was raided in Harare on Thursday.
“State agents are going after our leadership in CDF,” Chari said.
“They raided Harare province’s director [of] programmes Paul Gorekore a few days ago, they besieged Tendai Biti’s offices two days ago and today they have raided Gilbert Bgwende’s home.
“They have rammed an unpopular amendment on people and they are making sure our voices are muzzled, but we will keep speaking up and mobilising against this!”
CDF condemned the actions as an attempt to intimidate citizens exercising their constitutional rights.
This followed previous reports of police camping outside Biti’s offices, an action the former Finance minister denounced as an “unlawful and unconstitutional invasion of our right to work”.
Opposition politician Gift “Ostallos” Siziba expressed concern over the pattern of intimidation.
“The reported threats against suspected CAB 3 critics are deeply concerning and point to a worrying rise in intimidation and harassment,” he said.
“It increasingly appears as though the constitutional Bill of Rights is being treated as suspended.”
Siziba said he was also a victim of the targeted attacks.
Political commentator Reason Wafawarova framed the crackdown as an act of weakness and confirmation of lack of public support for the Bill.
“Victimisation of CAB 3 critics is a confession of fear,” he said.
“Fear of truth. Fear of the people. Fear of reality. Fear of the inevitable. It is a confirmation of illegitimacy.”
Wafawarova believes the government’s “fear” of a referendum and its critics reveals a deeper anxiety about lack of genuine public support for the amendments.
Defend the Constitution Platform (DCP) convener Jameson Timba echoed similar sentiments.
He said if there was support for the Bill, there would be no need to silence critics.
“In a democracy, popular ideas prevail through persuasion, open debate and, where the Constitution requires it, through the sovereign will of the people expressed in a referendum and not through fear or coercion.”
Timba reiterated DCP’s calls for a referendum.
“We, therefore, call upon the authorities to guarantee the safety and constitutional rights of every citizen regardless of their political views and to ensure that Zimbabwe remains a country where constitutional questions are resolved through dialogue, lawful processes and respect for the people’s sovereignty rather than intimidation,” he said.
No comment could be obtained from the police.
CAB 3 sailed through Senate and is set to be sent back to the Lower House before being presented to President Emmerson Mnangagwa for assent.
The Bill seeks to extend Mnangagwa’s term by two years and overhaul several sections of the country’s Constitution.
It has, however, faced opposition from opposition circles as well as from within Zanu PF, including retired generals and war veterans.
