Opposition MPs plead with minister to allow opposition to canvass support against Amendment Bill 3

Tshabangu MP leaps to Zanu PF defence

Kadoma Central MP, Gift Mambipiri, has questioned the guarantee of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly in Zimbabwe after the arrest of Tendai Biti on 21 March 2026 and the violent attack of Professor Lovemore Madhuku.

Mambipiri was speaking during Wednesday’s Question and answer session in the National Assembly, where he asked if Zanu PF was fhe only party allowed to gather and talk about the Bill.

” I have heard the Minister saying that he is seeing people giving opinions pertaining to the Bill freely. As we are moving around, there are some people from a certain party who are allowed to gather and give their views. (Interjected by jeering) What is it that should be done so that people have these gatherings to discuss this Amendment Bill without being attacked?” queeried the lawmaker.

Biti was arrested in Mutare while addressing members of the public on the contentious Amendment Bill Number 3, detained overnight and granted USD$500 bail the following day at the Mutare magistrate’s court

Two of Lovemore Madhuku’s party members were abducted, beaten and dumped.

Later Madhuku and another member of the NCA party were attacked before they could start an inhouse elmeeting at NCA offices in Harare, the duo was hospitalised after the incident.

Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Affairs, Kazembe Kazembe, assured the house that it was just a matter of compliace with Maintanace of Peace Act that would ensure a sanctioned gathering.

“In Zimbabwe, we have a law, the Constitution, and MOPA. There are rules and regulations that are expected to be followed when you want to have public gatherings. If you want a gathering without demonstrations, you give a specific time that is not an election time and a notice of seven days, which states the date, the venue, the number of people gathering and the reason for the gathering. So, you are allowed to do so if you abide by that rule. If there is any suspicion by the police that there is something that is not going well, they call the convener and they discuss with the convener and also come up with solutions. If it is done correctly, the meeting will continue. It is allowed by the Constitution,” said Kazembe.

Dzivarasekwa lawmaker, Hon Edwin Mushoriwa, pressed the Minister to give an answer on whether it was policy to deny opposition a chance to convene as most applications to do so were denied.

“As we speak, some Hon. Members wrote letters to the police seeking authority to have meetings with people from their constituencies but most of them were declined. Is that the Government policy that people are not given permission to hold those meetings?” he querried.

Before the minister could respond on the policy question, Citizens Coalition for Change Chief whip, Charles Moyo, a CCC MP, who was in the limelight for backing Zanu PF resolution number 1, quickly lept to defend Zanu PF saying Honourable Joanna Mamombe had held a hearing on the matter in her constituency.

“Thank you Madam Speaker. Hon. Mamombe held a meeting in her constituency and she came and gave a report here. The people in her constituency gave their opinions so that is the truth that is there, not what Hon. Mushoriwa has said,” said Moyo.

When Constitution Defence Forum wanted to launch their outfit, police denied.

Kazembe then advised MPs to appeal at court if police decline their requests. Kazembe said it would take 3 days

“The Hon. Member has said that there are MPs who wrote letters and they were declined. MOPA allows an individual to appeal to a magistrate if their request has been declined. We also have an Independent Complaints Commission. If anyone realises that they are not satisfied with what the police have done, that Commission was appointed by the President. They can approach them and inform them that the issue has not been handled well by the police. So, we have two ways to deal with those who are aggrieved by the police’s decision,” said Kazembe.

As the debate intensified Zvimba East MP, Kudakwashe Manhanzva, asked the duration of processing a request to hold such a meeting and the minister said three days