Harare– A Zimbabwean political party has called for the immediate arrest of those responsible for the violent assault on human rights lawyer, Douglas Coltart, condemning the attack as a “direct assault on democracy” during public hearings on a constitutional amendment bill.

The assault occurred on Wednesday at the City Sports Centre in Harare, where Coltart was attending public hearings for the Constitutional Amendment Bill No 3.

Linda Tsungirirai Masarira, president of the Labour Economists and Afrikan Democrats (LEAD) said in a statement that Coltart’s attack was a direct assault on democracy.

Coltart was physically attacked, harassed, and robbed of his personal belongings at the venue, which was intended to serve as a lawful and inclusive public forum.

“What occurred is not merely an attack on an individual. It was a direct assault on democracy itself, on constitutional order, and on the fundamental right of citizens to participate freely and without fear in national processes,” Masarira said.

The LEAD president characterized the violence as evidence of “a deeply troubling pattern of political intolerance, organised violence, and the systematic suppression of dissenting voices in Zimbabwe.”

She further argued that the incident undermines the credibility of the constitutional reform process and reflects a broader shrinking of democratic space in the country.

Masarira demanded a full and transparent investigation into the violence and called for firm guarantees regarding the safety of citizens and legal practitioners at future public engagements. She added that if such conditions cannot be met, the consultation process should be suspended for urgent review.

“Zimbabwe now stands at a defining moment,” Masarira said. “A nation can not claim to uphold constitutional democracy while its citizens are assaulted for speaking, its lawyers attacked for defending rights, and its public processes overtaken by fear and coercion.”

Attempts to reach police spokespersons for comment were unsuccessful by the time of publication.

We publish below the full statement from LEAD:

PRESS STATEMENT: CONDEMNATION OF THE ASSAULT ON DOUG COLTART

By Linda Tsungirirai Masarira
President – Labour Economists and Afrikan Democrats (LEAD)

1 April 2026

I condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the violent assault on human rights lawyer Douglas Coltart at the City Sports Centre in Harare during the public hearings on the Constitutional Amendment Bill.

What occurred is not merely an attack on an individual. It was a direct assault on democracy itself, on constitutional order, and on the fundamental right of citizens to participate freely and without fear in national processes.

Credible reports indicate that Mr. Coltart was physically attacked, harassed, and dispossessed of his personal belongings at what should have been a lawful, peaceful, and inclusive public forum. Such conduct is not only unacceptable. It signals a deeply troubling pattern of political intolerance, organised violence, and the systematic suppression of dissenting voices in Zimbabwe.

We must be unequivocal about this: public hearings are not battlegrounds. Citizens are not enemies for expressing differing views. Legal practitioners must never be targeted for upholding constitutional principles. The degeneration of a democratic platform into a space of intimidation and violence stands in clear violation of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, particularly the provisions guaranteeing freedom of assembly and association, the right to demonstrate and petition, and the protection of political rights.

This incident lays bare a dangerous shrinking of democratic space and casts serious doubt on the credibility and legitimacy of the current constitutional reform process.

As LEAD, we therefore call for the immediate arrest and prosecution of all those responsible for this assault. We demand a full and transparent investigation into the violence witnessed at these hearings, as well as firm guarantees to ensure the safety and security of all citizens, legal practitioners, and stakeholders in any future public engagements. Should these conditions not be met, the current consultation process must be suspended and subjected to urgent review to restore integrity and fairness.

Zimbabwe now stands at a defining moment. A nation can not claim to uphold constitutional democracy while its citizens are assaulted for speaking, its lawyers attacked for defending rights, and its public processes overtaken by fear and coercion. This is not governance; it is coercion disguised as consultation.

We will not normalise violence. We will not be silenced. We will not allow our country to slide into lawlessness under the pretext of reform. Zimbabwe belongs to its people, and it must be governed through law, justice, and the free will of its citizens, not through intimidation or fear.