President Emmerson Mnangagwa has removed Fungayi Jessie Majome as chairperson of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission after she publicly criticised proposed constitutional amendments, warning they could concentrate power and weaken democratic safeguards.
Majome has been reassigned to serve as a commissioner in the Public Service Commission with immediate effect. The move was confirmed in a government statement issued on 10 April 2026 by Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Martin Rushwaya.
The statement cited constitutional provisions for the reassignment but did not explicitly link the decision to her recent remarks or provide further explanation.
Before her removal, Majome had raised concerns about both the substance of the proposed changes and the conduct of nationwide public hearings, arguing that the process risked undermining institutional accountability and judicial independence.
Her reassignment comes amid heightened political debate over the constitutional reform process, which has attracted scrutiny from opposition figures and civil society groups.
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, which she previously led, is mandated to promote and protect human rights and has been monitoring developments linked to the reform process.
Meanwhile respected lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu said the decision by Mnangagwa to remove Majome from her position was unconstitutional.
“A member of an Independent Commission, such as the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, can only be removed from office under section 237(2) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
“Section 237(3) expressly provides that the procedure for removing a judge also applies to members of an Independent Commission; accordingly, a tribunal must be appointed on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission and the member must be found guilty of misconduct before removal.
“Reassigning Jessie Majome to the Public Service Commission therefore constitutes removal from office and is unconstitutional.
“Reliance on section 202(1)(b) is unavailing: that provision does not affect the security of tenure enjoyed by Majome is of no application to the situation at hand, and the attempt effectively seeks to demote her from Chairperson of an Independent Commission to an ordinary commissioner of the PSC.
“We cannot sit idly by while such serious violations occur. The Department of Justice has failed in its duties, with potentially grave consequences,” Mpofu wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
