E xe cu t i ve Su m m ar y
Z
IMBABWE is entering an unpredictable
terrain laden with potential for progression
and regression in the political, social and
economic sphere. Replete with history of
violence during such political transitions, there are
already worrying signs of potential violence. The
Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) has been monitoring
and documenting reports and incidents from January
2017. These reports and incidents suggest that there
are tensions within the country at various levels
centred on the political, social and economic state
of the country. The use of hate speech has increased,
through various mediums including social media,
incitement of violence at campaign rallies, gay bashing
or labelling of opponents as gay. These statements are
pervasive across the political divide with intensity
increasing as 2018 elections draw near.
The use of hate speech and statements inciting
violence against opposing inter and intra party
views have contributed to acts of violence. Youths
continue to be used as foot soldiers. Former war
veterans, splintered, and dismissed from the ruling
party continue to instigate resentment towards
the First Family, targeted at Grace Mugabe. The
ruling party Zanu PF and opposition MDC-T
have all recorded cases of assault, property damage,
with little or no tangible efforts at resolving these
amicably. Newly formed parties like Zimbabwe
People First (ZimPF) have had breakaways within
months of formation. This is directly attributed to lack
of adherence to democratic values. The splintering
has not been without violence as senior officials were
publicly involved in fist fights. The coalition formation
processes have also exhibited the underlying tensions
in opposition political parties and ethnic undertones.
The economy is not showing any signs of recovery.
Policy inconsistency and incoherence continues,
increasing rent seeking behaviour, and abuse of
government facilities. The liquidity crisis, cash
shortages have increased. Efforts to engage with the
international financial institutions (IFIs) through a
debt repayment strategy appears to have stalled due
to non-implementation of other economic reforms.
Regional and international institutions are not fully
engaged on Zimbabwe post the government of national
unity ushered through Southern African Development
Community (SADC) mediation, despite signs of
potential violence and breakdown.
Key local institutions appear unable to provide the
required safeguards, with the security sector caught
in the factional fights in the ruling party. Concerns
of abuse of state institutions such as the Zimbabwe
Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) for political
and partisan purposes are rife. Commissions such as
the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission
(NPRC) have remained paper tigers. The Zimbabwe
Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has exhibited