A SHADOWY vigilante group calling itself the “Presidential Mafia” has threatened opposition politicians and civic activists opposed to the proposed constitutional amendments.
The group, which has been circulating videos on social media platforms, issued warnings to critics of the proposed amendments, which seek, among others, to extend Mnangagwa’s tenure and that of Parliament.
In one of the clips, the group made sensational allegations against senior opposition politicians Lovemore Madhuku and Tendai Biti.
They accused Biti of allegedly receiving funding from the United States to sponsor drug abuse among youths in a bid to discredit the government.
“Let me warn you, you ain’t going to do any protests because we know you were funded to mislead the youths. I am warning you, if you want to conduct a protest, be warned, we will deal with you,” a member of the group said in the video.
The remarks have drawn criticism from rights groups and opposition figures, who say the threats reflect a growing climate of intolerance and intimidation against dissenting voices.
In recent weeks, there has been an escalation in the crackdown on those campaigning against the Constitutional Amendment Bill No 3.
Members of the Madhuku-led National Constitutional Assembly have reported violent disruptions of meetings and alleged assaults by suspected State security agents.
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Madhuku and several party members were on Sunday hospitalised following what they described as a brutal attack at their party offices in Harare.
Activists aligned to the Defend the Constitution Platform, a civic organisation convened by Biti have alleged abduction and torture after participating in meetings opposing the proposed constitutional changes.
Police have also been accused of denying clearance to civic groups seeking to hold discussions on the amendment process, raising concern about shrinking democratic space.
Responding to the threats, Biti said the remarks should be taken seriously, describing them as part of a broader pattern of intimidation.
“The threats by the Zanu PF mafia on our lives are obviously serious. Faced with the backlash against Constitutional Amendment No 3, Zanu PF can only revert to what it knows best, which is violence and murder,” Biti said.
“We have walked this road before and lost thousands of friends and comrades. But we have never been cowards; we have never yielded on matters of principle.
“The Constitutional Bill is a heinous attack on our freedoms, on our dignity, on our sovereignty. We will, therefore, resist it with every ounce of our energy.
“We will defend the 2013 Constitution and if it means we will lose our lives in the process, then let it be.”
Critics argue that any attempt to alter presidential term limits will undermine the 2013 Constitution, which introduced a two-term cap on the presidency.
