PROVINCIAL OUTLOOK
Masvingo
In Masvingo province, 19 human rights violations were documented, mainly involving abuse of authority,
political intimidation, and denial of access to essential services. On 14 January 2026, at SimRac Shopping
Complex, a female vendor was assaulted and arbitrarily arrested by three male police officers, with charges
later changed to indecent exposure, and her goods destroyed, in a case of brazen harassment of informal
traders. In the health sector, patients at Mashoko Hospital and Gawa Clinic face exorbitant user fees with
limited medication availability, and treatment delays, affecting vulnerable patients including a 7-year-old girl
and a 14-year-old learner referred for treatment. In Masvingo North, traditional leadership imposed strict
clearance requirements for civic activities, raising concerns over freedom of assembly and association with
potential effects on political rights. In Gutu West, a ruling party supporter threatened a person with disability
with violence, while in Ward 5, ruling party leaders reportedly ordered monitoring and intimidation of
opposition supporters. In Bikita East, partisan political messaging was introduced into a religious burial setting
by a church leader aligned to the ruling party. Other incidents reflected similar patterns of political
intimidation, discrimination, and barriers to accessing services.
Midlands
In Midlands province, 13 human rights violations were documented, involving environmental rights concerns,
political violence, and restrictions on civic freedoms. In Redcliff and Kwekwe (Cactus Dam area), communities
raised concerns over potential water contamination linked to gold processing chemicals from mining activities
near residential areas and downstream farming and religious communities, threatening the rights to health,
safe water, and a clean environment.
In Zhombe (Ward 14), a resident was assaulted by a ruling party youth leader after demanding transparency in
agricultural input distribution, and although the perpetrator was convicted, political interference prevented
enforcement of the sentence, undermining the rule of law. Near Gumbure Primary School, police disrupted a
gathering of more than 45 people linked to opposition leader Nelson Chamisa over clearance issues, raising
concerns over freedom of assembly. In Chiwundura, ruling party members threatened suspected opposition
and civil society supporters, including warnings of possible eviction linked to the “2030” agenda. In Silobela,
police stopped a Gukurahundi memorial service organised by a human rights group, citing authorisation
issues.
Mashonaland West
In Mashonaland West province, 10 human rights violations were documented, mainly involving abuse of authority,
political violence, and alleged state security violations. In Sanyati, violence linked to ruling party supporters
resulted in the severe assault of an individual during a dispute involving party members, with the victim later
arrested and released on bail pending court proceedings. In Magunje, irregularities were reported in agricultural
input distribution, where 29 village heads reportedly received 621 fertiliser bags instead of 860, with some inputs
allegedly diverted to ruling party supporters.
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