Intimidation allegations mar Zimbabwe's constitutional amendment public hearings
via NewsDay Zimbabwe6 min read
Reports of intimidation and reprisals against citizens participating in parliamentary public hearings on Zimbabwe's proposed Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment No 3 Bill are raising concerns about democratic governance. Allegations include villagers fleeing homes or facing threats for expressing their views, which critics argue undermines the purpose of public consultations. These consultations are intended to gather diverse citizen opinions, not to rubber-stamp predetermined outcomes. The article highlights claims of individuals being tracked, questioned, and threatened, creating an environment where dissent is stifled. Furthermore, there are claims that some citizens are being threatened with exclusion from social welfare programs or pressured to leave their communities due to their expressed views, effectively weaponizing poverty against those exercising their constitutional rights. The editorial stresses that a constitution should protect citizens from fear, not become its source, and that such incidents compromise the integrity of the constitutional process. It urges thorough investigations and accountability for perpetrators to prevent the normalization of fear in public participation and to maintain the credibility of the consultative process. Failure to act decisively, it warns, erodes public confidence in the rule of law and weakens democratic foundations. The article concludes that legitimate constitutional reform requires an atmosphere of openness, tolerance, and r
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by NewsDay Zimbabwe.
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