One Year On: Shattered Hopes and Promises
August 26 marked the anniversary of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s inauguration into office.
Zimbabweans had very high hopes for his administration, buttressed by his election promises that living
conditions for many will improve to much better levels than those experienced during President Robert
Mugabe’s 38 year rule. One year on and Zimbabweans have found themselves in a worse situation than
before.
August has particularly been characterised by a drastic upsurge in human rights violations largely brought on
by the call for demonstrations by Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leadership in some of the major
cities of the country. The period leading up to the planned demonstrations was characterised by a sharp
increase of violations such as intimidation, abductions, torture and assault of mostly MDC, civil society
activists and artists.
Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) has, over the past few months, reiterated the need for progressive and open
dialogue by leading political and other actors as well as all segments of society in a bid to avoid conflict.
Challenging living conditions such as the increasingly difficult economic conditions, severe power cuts,
skyrocketing prices of basic commodities were noted as triggers likely to lead to widespread clashes. Sadly,
this has come to pass and there are strong indications that this volatility will increase going forward. On the
other hand the state has countered criticism with persecution of perceived critics.
This was particularly apparent in the month of August. MDC called for demonstrations in Harare (August 16),
Bulawayo (August 18) Gweru and Mutare on August 19 and 20 respectively. Days leading up to the
demonstrations were characterised by a sharp increase in abductions, torture and assaults. The state prohibited
demonstrations planned for Harare through an order on the 15th of August, asserting that there were
indications that the planned demonstrations would be violent. MDC reacted by filing an urgent chamber
application seeking to quash the ban, but Justice Joseph Musakwa ruled against them stating that they should
have lodged their appeal at the Magistrate’s Court. The citizens who had responded to the call for a
demonstration in Harare waited patiently for the High Court to deliver its decision on the matter. When the
ruling of the court eventually filtered, police descended heavily on the protesters most of whom were still
seating waiting for the way forward. Several protesters were injured while many more were arrested when riot
police violently dispersed them. Most of those arrested have been denied bail since their detention.