EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In August 2025, the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) documented 121 human rights violations
affecting 3,099 victims across the country. Of these, 1,563 were women, of whom 50 have
disabilities, while 1,536 were men, of whom 29 have disabilities.
The violations reveal the deep and often invisible harm caused to individuals and communities.
Victims were subjected to threats of violence, assaults, inhuman treatment and forced
displacements, each leaving long-lasting scars on dignity, security, and social cohesion. Restrictions
on freedoms of assembly, association, expression, and access to social services further entrenched
a climate of fear and exclusion, while incidents of hate speech and malicious property damage
deepened divisions and trauma.
The majority of perpetrators were affiliated with the ruling ZANU PF party, accounting for 44.4% of
documented violations. Within this group, party leaders (26.1%) and ordinary members (18.3%) were
the main actors. Other perpetrators included local authorities (15.2%), traditional leaders (14.4%),
and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (12.5%). Government officials contributed 7%, school authorities
3.1%, religious leaders 1.2%, Citizens Coalition for Change leaders 1.2%, and the Zimbabwe
National Army 0.4% were also implicated. In 0.8% of cases, perpetrators could not be linked to any
known group.
At the provincial level, violations were widespread but most pronounced in Masvingo (26) and
Manicaland (22), followed by Midlands (19), Mashonaland West and East (14 each), Mashonaland
Central (9), Bulawayo (7), Harare (6), and Matabeleland North (4). ZPP observed that across
provinces, beneficiaries of government schemes were coerced into contributing to Grain Marketing
Board reserves. The forceful implementation, extending even to poor households and nonbeneficiaries, risks deepening food insecurity as traditional leaders demand contributions beyond
GMB’s stipulations.
In the section Towards Sustainable Peace in Zimbabwe, we look at the Zimbabwe Human Rights
Commission’s statement condemning enforced disappearances as a grave violation of
fundamental rights, including the right to life, liberty, and dignity. However, we also highlighted how
the efforts could be improved by reference to specific and updated data on current trends and
victims of enforced disappearances.
This report highlights that human
rights violations in Zimbabwe are
systemic, creating fear, silencing
dissent, and targeting vulnerable
groups, therefore there is a need to
take action to ensure there is
accountability, strengthen
protections for freedoms, and
promote inclusive community
healing and reconciliation.