EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
I
n April, the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) documented a total of 93 human rights violations
affecting 6059 individuals. The data reveals that threats of violence were the most frequently
recorded type of abuse, reflecting an increasingly hostile and intimidating environment.
Other commonly reported violations included physical assault, unfair distribution of aid, and restrictions
on access to essential services. More severe incidents, such as arbitrary arrests, torture, and abductions,
though recorded in fewer numbers, highlight an ongoing erosion of civil liberties and the rule of law.
Victims
continued
to
experience
infringements
on
their
rights
to
freedom
of
expression,
assembly,
association, and access to social services, painting a concerning picture of the state of human rights
across the country.
The
affected
individuals
included
3096
women
and
2963
men.
Those
targeted
spanned
various
demographics, including informal traders, students, artisanal miners, and members of both ruling and
opposition political parties.
Analysis of the data indicates that individuals affiliated with the ruling party, ZANU PF, were responsible
for 34.1% of the reported violations. The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) accounted for 24.1% of the
perpetrators, while local councils were responsible for 15.64%. The Zimbabwe National Army contributed
6.41%, and government officials 4.62%. Members of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC)
were responsible for 4.36% of the cases. Traditional leaders and members of the Forever Associates of
Zimbabwe (FAZ) were implicated in 2.82% and 1.79% of violations, respectively. A further 6.15% of
violations were committed by individuals not affiliated with any known political party or institution.
Geographically, Masvingo Province recorded the highest number of violations with 20 cases, followed by
Harare Province with 14, mirroring patterns observed in March. Other provinces included Manicaland (12),
Mashonaland Central (13), Mashonaland East (11), and Mashonaland West (12). Notably, the Midlands
Province recorded a decrease in reported incidents, from 14 in March to five in April. Bulawayo (1),
Matabeleland North (2), and Matabeleland South (3) reported significantly fewer violations.
Despite the worrying trends, the month also brought a positive development in the form of a High Court
ruling affirming the constitutional right to strike by the University of Zimbabwe's Association of University
Teachers
(AUT).
However,
there
were
regressive
developments
in
other
sectors.
Violations
within
healthcare institutions and the enactment of the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Amendment Act
prompted a strong response from civil society organisations, which issued a press statement condemning
the move.
ZPP notes with concern the continued perpetration of politically motivated violence, coercion, and
systemic abuses by both state and non-state actors. Human rights violations data collected by ZPP in
April
underscores
an
urgent
need
for
institutional
reform,
enhanced
accountability,
and
the
implementation of protective mechanisms to safeguard the fundamental rights of all Zimbabweans.
Without deliberate action to reverse these trends, the pursuit of sustainable peace, democracy, and
justice remains critically undermined.
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