By Fanuel Chinowaita
Harare, 2 March 2026 — The Lovemore Madhuku, leader of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), was severely assaulted on Saturday morning during a meeting at the party’s offices along Herbert Chitepo Avenue in Harare, triggering conflicting accounts between the opposition movement and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).
According to the NCA, Madhuku and several party members were attacked while holding a meeting, with the academic-turned-politician sustaining injuries that required medical attention. He and other injured members were rushed to a local clinic in Harare for treatment.
NCA spokesperson Madock Chivasa confirmed the incident, accusing the police of violently disrupting the gathering.
“We were holding a meeting this morning when police rounded up and attacked our members, including our leader Professor Madhuku. He has been injured,” Chivasa told NewsDay.
However, in a press statement issued on March 1, the Zimbabwe Republic Police distanced itself from the alleged assault, insisting that it was not involved in the incident.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police has noted reports of an alleged attack on Professor Lovemore Madhuku and members of his team. For the record, the police were not involved in the alleged incident,” the statement read.
Police further revealed that Madhuku and his team had earlier notified the relevant regulating authority of their intended meeting. Following a review, authorities reportedly identified “certain irregularities” and advised the NCA convener that the meeting was not sanctioned.
“As such, no police personnel were deployed to oversee or monitor the meeting in question,” the ZRP said.
Despite denying involvement, police said they were “keen to know what actually transpired” regarding the alleged attack on Madhuku and his team.
The incident adds to rising political tensions in Harare and has sparked renewed concern over the safety of opposition leaders and the policing of political meetings. No arrests had been announced at the time of publishing, and investigations into the assault remain unclear.