Lawyers for Lawyers joins the undersigned organisations in condemning the violence and intimidation against human rights lawyer Douglas Coltart at a public hearing on Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3, held at the City Sports Centre in Harare on 31 March 2026. The refusal of the organisers to allow Mr Coltart and others opposed to the amendments to speak during the proceedings, his violent removal from the venue, and subsequent threats constitute a violation of his personal and professional right to freedom of expression, to bodily integrity and to carry out his professional duties without intimidation or reprisal.
We have been informed that Mr Coltart attended the public hearing with several individuals, who were all prevented from expressing their views on the Constitutional Amendment Bill. The Bill seeks to increase the President’s control over judicial appointments by removing public participation in the process, assigning almost all power to the President to appoint judges, undermining judicial independence. The amendments would also increase the President’s control over the upper house of Parliament by adding 10 unelected Senators appointed by the President; abolish presidential elections and allow Parliament to select the President; extend the President and Parliament’s terms and allow the current President and members of parliament to benefit from the changes, remaining in power until (at least) 2030; increase the President’s control over elections by removing key electoral functions from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission; and abolish independent commissions that support democracy.
During the public hearing on 31 March, it appeared that those opposed to the Bill were systematically prevented from speaking to voice their concerns. The individual holding the microphone reportedly appeared to selectively choose who could speak, while others who attempted to access the microphone were physically blocked, pushed, and assaulted by a group of young men surrounding the microphone holder. Mr Coltart recorded videos of some of these incidents and other irregularities during the hearing using his mobile phone, before a group of men gathered around their bay, chanting and acting in a threatening and intimidating way. As Mr Coltart attempted to leave, he was reportedly attacked by an individual from behind, his phone was stolen and he was pushed to the ground. As he attempted to retrieve his phone, he was attacked by a group of men who physically assaulted him, shouted abusive language and ultimately helped the individual to retain the phone and hand it to another accomplice. In this way, the incident appears coordinated.
We have received reports about attempts to gain access to the phone since it was stolen. Our organisations are concerned that the seemingly coordinated attack and theft of Mr Coltart’s phone, which contains evidence of the irregularities during the hearing as well as privileged information and communications related to his clients and legal work, risk breaching lawyer-client confidentiality.
We are also concerned by threats issued against Mr Coltart by a group called ‘Presidential Mafia Edutainers 4ED’, including a video shared on social media that uses dehumanising language and threatens physical violence if he continues to oppose the Constitutional Amendment Bill. We are also aware of similar threats and violent attacks against other prominent lawyers and political figures opposed to the amendments. It therefore appears that the repression and intimidation experienced during and since the hearing are aimed at stifling dissent and preventing free speech, including by legal professionals in relation to matters of law and the administration of justice, protected under international human rights law. It also contributes to a chilling effect, deterring other lawyers and rights defenders from speaking out for fear of retaliation.
Since 2019, Mr Coltart has faced repeated harassment, assaults, spurious legal charges and detention in the course of his professional duties.
