PROVINCIAL OUTLOOK
Mashonaland Central
In
the
lead-up
Day
The province is marred by serious shortages of potable water.
celebrations on April 18, the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP)
Residents in areas such as Nguboyenja, Makokoba, and Mzilikazi
documented
fundraising
have endured prolonged periods without access to clean and
practices that violate constitutional rights and perpetuate
safe water, a situation that gravely undermines their basic human
fear within communities. 13 violations were documented in
rights and dignity. The erratic and often unannounced changes to
the province. Residents were compelled to pay an average
the
of
upcoming
uncertainty, with some households going for several consecutive
enforced
days without any water supply. In desperation, many residents
with intimidation, those who declined to contribute were
have resorted to sourcing water from unprotected and potentially
branded as “sellouts,” a label that carries significant social
contaminated sources, placing their health at serious risk. This
stigma
crisis directly contravenes fundamental human rights principles,
a
USD$2
to
Bulawayo
troubling
per
Independence
and
Day
the
pattern
household
event.
potential
undermines
Zimbabwe’s
The
political
citizens’
right
Independence
of
coercive
toward
the
collections
were
retaliation.
to
free
This
practice
association
and
water-shedding
timetable
have
created
significant
particularly the right to water and sanitation as recognized in
protection from coercion. Similar violations were recorded in
both
Chomagora Village in Mount Darwin South, and in Shamva
instruments,
North.
of
Social and Cultural Rights. The state has a clear obligation to
state-aligned
ensure that all individuals have continuous, sufficient, and safe
These
practices
politicizing
national
community
structures,
reflect
events
such
by
as
an
entrenched
leveraging
traditional
culture
leadership,
to
extract funds from vulnerable populations under duress.
Zimbabwe’s
such
Constitution
as
the
and
international
International
Covenant
human
on
rights
Economic,
access to water, especially for drinking, cooking, and hygiene
purposes.
The
failure
to
uphold
this
right
disproportionately
affects women, children, and the elderly, groups that often bear
the brunt of water-related burdens within households.
Matabeleland North
There was generally a climate of fear and repression despite only two violations being documented in the province. On April 2,
the ZANU PF Provincial youth officer Landi Mudimba, issued warnings of unspecified consequences to villagers suspected of
supporting Geza, urging all village heads to shift their allegiance to the ruling ZANU PF party. Further escalating tensions, on April
22, during a gathering at the Binga District Center, District Development Co-ordinator Mr. Kabome threatened civil servants with
disciplinary action if they participated in a stay-away protest allegedly linked to Geza. Kabome summoned the district public
service officer and instructed him to monitor staff attendance, emphasizing that any absenteeism would be met with punitive
measures. A team of inspectors was dispatched to public institutions to ensure compliance, and by the afternoon, operations
across Binga District had resumed as normal. These incidents underscore the ongoing political coercion and misuse of public
office to suppress dissent and enforce loyalty to the ruling party.
Conclusion
The overall picture in Zimbabwe reflects a deepening crisis of systemic political repression, veiled as community mobilization,
where traditional leaders and public officials are increasingly complicit in suppressing civic freedoms and advancing partisan
interests. This trend not only destabilizes local governance but also entrenches cycles of fear, inequality, and silence within
communities. The exploitation of food aid as a mechanism for political control is particularly alarming, as it weaponizes hunger
and undermines the constitutional principles of non-discrimination and equitable access to state resources. Combined with
persistent patterns of threats, intimidation, arbitrary arrests, and coerced political participation, the current situation points to a
coordinated
erosion
of
democratic
norms.
These
widespread
abuses
highlight
an
urgent
need
for
robust
electoral
and
governance reforms, especially to ensure the neutrality of traditional leaders and the depoliticization of public institutions and
resources.
The Zimbabwe Peace Project urges civil society, human rights defenders, and all citizens to intensify advocacy efforts aimed at
protecting citizens’ rights, restoring accountability, and upholding democratic principles. Without decisive and sustained action,
there is a grave risk that a culture of impunity and intimidation will become normalised, further eroding public trust in governance
and jeopardizing prospects for sustainable peace in Zimbabwe.
Report
Human Rights Violations
0774883417 0774883406 4