Zimbabwe Watchlist 2024
PRESS RELEASE
Zimbabwe added to human rights watchlist amid escalating crackdown on civil society and political opposition
23 September 2024
- Over 160 individuals arrested since June, including elected officials, opposition members, union leaders, students, and journalists.
- Reports of torture and other ill-treatment during detentions.
- ZANU-PF pushing for constitutional amendments to extend President Mnangagwa’s term beyond 2028.
Zimbabwe has been added to a watchlist of countries, which includes Argentina, Azerbaijan and Thailand, due to a rapid decline in fundamental civic freedoms. This announcement comes amid a crackdown on opposition members, civil society organisations, and activists.
The new watchlist is released by the CIVICUS Monitor, an online platform that tracks the latest developments to civic freedoms, including the freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly, across 198 countries and territories.
Since mid-June 2024, Zimbabwean authorities have arrested over 160 individuals, including elected officials, opposition members, union leaders, students, and journalists, with numerous reports of torture and other ill-treatment. The crackdown began on 16th June 2024, when police arrested 78 members of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), including interim party leader Jameson Timba, during a gathering to commemorate the International Day of the African Child. The group was charged with “gathering with intent to promote public violence and disorderly conduct.” Despite the court acquitting Timba and 77 others of disorderly conduct on 4th September 2024, 65 individuals, including Timba, remain in detention on charges of “participating in an unlawful gathering.”
“The relentless crackdown on civil society and opposition figures in Zimbabwe is alarming and demands urgent attention” said Sylvia Mbataru, CIVICUS Monitor Researcher for Africa, “the international community must act swiftly to defend and uphold fundamental human rights in the country before further damage is done.”
Further incidents include the arrest of 44 members of the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) on 24th June 2024, with reports of severe beatings. On 27th June 2024, peaceful protesters outside the Harare Magistrate’s Court were beaten and arrested. Additional arrests and disruptions of civil society activities have continued, including the arrest of five members of the National Democratic Working Group on 29th June 2024, and the disruption of a memorial service on 1st July 2024.
A particularly alarming incident occurred on 31st July 2024, when state agents forcibly removed four activists from a plane at Robert Gabriel Mugabe Airport and held them incommunicado for nearly eight hours. Reports indicate that the activists were tortured during their detention.
“The reports of torture and ill-treatment of detainees are alarming,” said Sylvia Mbataru. “Zimbabwean authorities must be held accountable for these human rights violations.”
In a concerning political development, the ruling party ZANU-PF has called for President Mnangagwa to extend his stay in office beyond 2028, despite constitutional barriers. The party is pushing for constitutional amendments to allow Mnangagwa to run for a third term.
The CIVICUS Monitor urges the Zimbabwean government to cease its crackdown on civil society and opposition members, release all those arbitrarily detained, and respect the rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association.
About the CIVICUS Monitor
Over twenty organisations collaborate on the CIVICUS Monitor to provide an evidence base for action to improve civic space on all continents. Civic freedoms in 198 countries and territories are categorised as either ‘closed,’ ‘repressed,’ ‘obstructed,’ ‘narrowed’ or ‘open,’ based on a methodology that combines several data sources on the freedoms of association, peaceful assembly and expression.
Zimbabwe is currently rated ‘Repressed’ by the CIVICUS Monitor. There are a total of 50 countries in the world with this rating (see all). This rating is typically given to countries where civic space is heavily contested by power holders, who impose a combination of legal and practical constraints on the full enjoyment of fundamental rights (see the full description of ratings).
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact: media@civicus.org