KEY VIOLATIONS
HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS ARISING FROM THE M31 PROTESTS IN ZIMBABWE
The March 31 protests, called for by former ZANU PF
the criminalization of protest. Of these, 95 were remanded to
senior member Blessed Geza, triggered a disturbing
April 10 for a bail ruling by Magistrate Isheunesu Matova, while
escalation
across
three others appeared before Magistrate Ruth Moyo. In Midlands
Zimbabwe, underscoring an increasingly repressive
Province, Councillors Mawere (Ward 16 Mkoba) and Parirenyatwa
political environment and shrinking civic space. The
Nyika (Woodlands) and six others were arrested for allegedly
Zimbabwe
24
mobilizing participants to participate in March 31 protest and
violations restricting freedom of assembly and
were reportedly assaulted, with Mawere enduring over a week in
association (affecting 740, 270 men and 470
pretrial detention. Such prolonged detention without trial is a
women), 15 violations against freedom of expression
blatant violation of the right to a fair and timely trial and
(affecting 146 people (72 men and 74 women), and
constitutes punitive repression without legal conviction. This use
14 assaults (affecting 68 citizens (38 men and 30
of the justice system as a tool of intimidation exerts immense
women), most of which were directly linked to
psychological and financial pressure on detainees and their
attempts to suppress the protests. These targeted
families while sending a clear warning to the broader public
violations reflect a deliberate state-led strategy to
against civic engagement. These actions point to an entrenched
violate constitutionally guaranteed rights, especially
culture of weaponization of the judiciary and criminal law to
the rights to demonstrate, express opinions freely,
punish human rights defenders. The impact on human rights is a
and participate in peaceful political activity.
severe dismantling of freedom of expression (read our extensive
In anticipation of the protests, security forces were
analysis here), eroding public trust in institutions, and deterring
deployed to pre-emptively intimidate citizens, arrest
peaceful
activists, and surveil communities, while online
immediate accountability and structural reforms, Zimbabwe risks
spaces were policed to silence dissent. The arrest of
institutionalizing a state of fear where dissent is punished, justice
98 Zimbabweans in Harare alone, solely for
is deferred, and democratic freedoms are rendered meaningless.
in
human
Peace
rights
Project
violations
(ZPP)
recorded
participation
in
democratic
processes.
Without
participating in the March 31 protests, exemplifies
Report
Human Rights Violations
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