Overview
- Harare’s City Sports Centre hearing on Tuesday turned chaotic as human rights lawyer Doug Coltart was assaulted and his phone taken while pro‑bill supporters heckled critics.
- Election observers reported packed venues, limited time for speakers, and no clear way to choose who could talk, which left many people shut out of the microphone.
- Opposition figures, including Lovemore Madhuku and Tendai Biti, say chairs ignored them as ZANU‑PF supporters arrived by bus and dominated contributions at multiple sites.
- Amnesty International urged authorities to protect free speech and assembly at the hearings after recent arrests and alleged assaults of critics raised fears of intimidation.
- The bill would extend presidential and parliamentary terms to seven years, have Parliament choose the president instead of voters, likely push the next election to 2030, and now moves to committee write‑ups before debate in a ZANU‑PF‑controlled Assembly.