By staff reporter
Harare – The parliamentary public hearing on the Private Voluntary Organizations (PVO) Amendment Bill took a violent turn today, leading to its abrupt termination at the Charles Austin Theatre hall in the Masvingo Civic Centre.
The incident has left a stain on what was meant to be a democratic process for public participation.
During the disturbance, Jonah Wakurawarehwa, a resident of Masvingo urban, suffered a severe leg injury and was rushed to Masvingo General Hospital for treatment.
Wakurawarehwa recounted the incident, stating that he was attacked and beaten by well known members of the Masvingo Zanu PF youth militia group.
The assault occurred after he requested the committee chairperson to relocate the meeting to the larger Masvingo City Council Civic Centre hall, which was just a short distance away.
Over 600 people were in a 300 Austin Theatre hall.
Unfortunately, his plea was denied, and the Zanu PF youths proceeded to assault him, forcibly removing him from the hall.
Some of the assailants were identified as members of the Zanu PF youth militia group.
Video evidence capturing the incident is currently in possession of various local media outlets.
Independent investigations revealed that Zanu PF had mobilized hundreds of party activists to influence the proceedings to turn violently.
Zanu PF provincial chairperson Mavhenyengwa failed to stop the violent party youth members from disrupting the meeting.
As tensions escalated, all attending parliamentarians, senators, and members of the Joint Portfolio Committee on Public Service, Labor, and Social Welfare, as well as the Thematic Committee on Gender Development, fled the scene to ensure their safety.
Responding to the violent situation, senior officials from the Masvingo Police deployed armed officers and two police dogs to restore order and prevent further escalation.
The majority of Masvingo citizens have expressed their opposition to the amendment of the Private Voluntary Organizations Amendment Bill.
Concerns raised by those against the amendment include the excessive power granted to the minister and registrar, as well as the insufficient time provided for the registration of PVO organizations.
According to a report by ZimRights out of the nine individuals who voiced their opinions during the public hearing, only one person supported the proposed amendments, while the rest were against them.
The violent disruption of the public hearing has cast a shadow over the democratic process and highlights the need for peaceful and respectful dialogue to address contentious issues.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the principles of free speech, public participation, and the right to express differing opinions without fear of violence or intimidation.