PROVINCIAL OUTLOOK
Masvingo
In Masvingo Province, 16 human rights violations were documented impacting 252 people (146 women and 106
men). In Ward 2 of Masvingo West Constituency, residents face a decade-long environmental injustice: as raw
sewage flows through streets and homes, exposing especially children to disease, council inaction and corrupt
practices persist despite repeated complaints to Ward Councilor Benson Hwata. In Masvingo Urban Ward 7, ZANU
PF supporters vandalized 25 campaign posters of an independent candidate, with no police or ZEC response by 25
August. The ward is set to vote in a bi-election on September 13 following the death of former councillor Tafara
Masimba. Other violations include forced grain contributions under government programs in Zaka South and
Masvingo North, pressuring vulnerable farmers to “repay” agricultural inputs, and unclear use of community
collections, as seen during Heroes Day where villagers were forced to contribute money towards Heroes holiday but
did not get feedback on how the resources were or would be used. In Chiredzi, vendors face harassment and
confiscation of goods despite paying council fees. Collectively, these cases reveal systemic abuse, political
intimidation, neglect of public services, and exploitation of residents’ basic rights across Masvingo Province.
Matabeleland North
In Matabeleland North, four human rights violations were documented. In Tsholotsho ward 11, a community member
was forced to pay three hundred South African Rand for digging a borehole at their homestead. The community
member had all the required paperwork, but the village head and his committee tried to force the community
member to pay the R300. The case was taken to the Head man who acquitted the community member and, in turn,
fined the village head and his committee. The ongoing Gukurahundi hearings, facilitated through traditional
leaders, have raised concerns about political coercion in awareness campaigns, limiting free and informed
participation. The process is slow, and many young attendees can only provide second-hand accounts, as firsthand
witnesses are aging and passing away. This situation underscores the urgent need to protect civic space, ensure
accountability for past atrocities, and preserve the historical memory of affected communities. These challenges
reflect broader human rights issues in the province, including the right to justice, truth, and meaningful participation
in processes that address past violations.
Manicaland Central
In Mashonaland Central, nine human rights violations were documented affecting 313 residents (170 women and 143
men). The most serious incident involved coercion and forced contributions of grain from beneficiaries of government
sponsored agricultural programs. Councillors, village heads, and party officials instructed households to contribute
maize, ranging from 2 gallons to 20 kg per family, with threats that non-compliance would result in exclusion from
Pfumvudza inputs and other government sponsored aid. In Guruve South and Mt Darwin West, residents faced pressure
to hand over maize despite poor harvests, leaving vulnerable households at risk of hunger. Similarly, in Mangondo
village in Mt Darwin South, villagers were forced to pay US$1 per household for Heroes Day celebrations, with refusal
branded unpatriotic, violating constitutional freedoms of association. These practices reflected the trending political
coercion, and exploitation of citizens’ basic rights, including food security, freedom from intimidation, and equitable
access to government support programs, highlighting urgent concerns over governance and accountability in the
province.