10 STEPS BACKWARDS
A hit on Freedom of Assembly
Freedom of assembly and association lie at the heart of democratic participation, enabling citizens to
organise, express collective interests and engage meaningfully in public affairs. In Zimbabwe, these rights are
firmly protected under Section 58 of the Constitution, which guarantees every person the freedom to assemble
and associate with others, and to form or belong to political parties, organisations or groups of their choice.
These freedoms are further reinforced by Section 67, which protects political participation, and Section 194,
which obligates public institutions to act with neutrality, accountability and fairness. When these constitutional
guarantees are undermined, the result is a weakened civic space where citizens cannot freely exercise agency
or hold the State accountable.
The Zimbabwe Peace Project has consistently documented a regression of the enjoyment of these rights
reflected in persistent pattern of coercion, manipulation and partisan control. These abuses range from forced
attendance at political meetings, disruptions of civic processes, and weaponisation of public resources, to
coercive demands for political allegiance in exchange for aid or access to economic opportunities. Incidents
such as the coercion of young men in Gokwe Central to denounce their political affiliation, the partisan
distribution of inputs in Mutare North and Mutoko South, and the violent takeover of a community budget
consultation in Epworth demonstrate how political actors use authority and economic vulnerability to suppress
independent organising.
These violations not only breach constitutional rights but also erode community autonomy, distort civic
engagement and weaken democratic participation. Ultimately, systematic interference with assembly and
association shrinks public space, undermines trust in governance and deprives citizens of their power to freely
shape their political and social destinies.
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