we lay bare this nexus, it is important to define freedom of expression from a domestic and
international law perspective.
Locally, freedom of expression is provided for in Section 61 of the Constitution which states that
(1) Every person has the right to freedom of expression, which includes— (a) freedom to seek,
receive and communicate ideas and other information…’ It further states that (2) Every person is
entitled to freedom of the media, which includes protection of the confidentiality of journalists’
sources of information. Freedom of the media, also known as press freedom, universally extends
to the right of media outlets, journalists, and individuals to gather, produce, and disseminate
information without undue interference, restriction, or censorship from governments, institutions,
or other powerful entities.
Internationally, Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), guarantees
the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human
and Peoples' Rights, protects the right to receive and impart information. Additionally, the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) guarantees the right to freedom of
expression in Article 19, emphasizing that restrictions on this right must be necessary and
proportionate.Zimbabwe is a State Party to the aforementioned international instruments and is
therefore legally obligated to uphold, protect, and ensure the full realization of the rights and
standards enshrined therein. Compliance with these obligations is not optional but a binding duty
under international law.
The implications of the 2030 agenda on freedom of expression: An analysis of human rights
violations data
It is evident from the human rights violations data in the possession of ZPP that citizens within
and outside of ZANU PF are experiencing targeted human rights violations on account of their
real or perceived opposition to the 2030 agenda. Whilst known or perceived opponents of the
2030 agenda have been subjected to various forms of human rights violations, a closer look at
the human rights violations data indicates that the most pervasive of these human rights
violations is freedom of expression. Between October 2024 and March2025, ZPP documented a