• World Report 2012: Zimbabwe
    Zimbabwe’s inclusive government has made significant progress in improving the country’s economic situation and reversing the decline of the past decade. For example, Zimbabwe has seen a marked improvement in its health system. However, despite a decline in HIV prevalence over the past decade and adoption of new guidelines on treatment in 2011, the number of HIV-positive Zimbabweans requiring but not receiving treatment remained high. Huge challenges also remain on the political front, with elections a key point of contention within the Government of National Unity (GNU).
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  • Human Rights in Zimbabwe

    Zimbabwe’s government of national unity has improved the economic situation but the political climate remains harsh, with a rise in partisan violence, mostly by supporters of ZANU-PF (the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front), against their partners in government, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Many question the independence of institutions vital to free and fair elections, including the electoral commission and the judiciary and the security forces, seen as staunch ZANU-PF allies. Authorities use repressive laws to silence journalists, human rights defenders, civil society and political opposition.

Reports

  • Perpetual Fear
    Impunity and Cycles of Violence in Zimbabwe
  • Deliberate Chaos
    Ongoing Human Rights Abuses in the Marange Diamond Fields of Zimbabwe
  • Sleight of Hand
    Repression of the Media and the Illusion of Reform in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe

  • Zimbabwe: Rampant Abuses in Marange Diamond Fields
    Aug 30, 2011

    (Johannesburg) – Zimbabwe police and private security guards employed by mining companies in the Marange diamond fields are shooting, beating and unleashing attack dogs on poor, local unlicensed miners. 

  • SADC: Q&A on The Tribunal
    Aug 11, 2011
    With the 2011 Ordinary Summit of Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government scheduled for August 16 and 17 in Luanda, Angola, these questions and answers are provided to shed more light on issues surrounding the effective suspension of the SADC Tribunal.
  • Global: Human Rights Watch Honors 7 Activists
    Aug 8, 2011
    Seven courageous and tireless advocates for human rights will be honored in November 2011 with the prestigious Alison Des Forges Award for Extraordinary Activism.
  • SADC: Confront Region’s Urgent Rights Issues
    Aug 8, 2011
    Leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) should address the worrying human rights situations in Malawi, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, and Angola.
  • Farai Maguwu, Zimbabwe
    Aug 8, 2011
    As director of the Center for Research and Development in eastern Zimbabwe, Farai Maguwu has conducted extensive research documenting horrific abuses taking place in the Marange diamond fields.
  • Zimbabwe: Kimberley Process on the Brink
    Jun 27, 2011
    The decision on June 23, 2011, to allow exports from Zimbabwe's Marange diamond fields goes against the very spirit and purpose of the Kimberley Process. Governments and companies should repudiate the decision and refuse Zimbabwean diamonds until participants in the Kimberley Process (KP) can make a clear decision about the export of these diamonds.
  • Zanu-PF: It's time to take decisive action
    Jun 13, 2011
    Leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) meeting at an emergency summit on Zimbabwe in South Africa on June 11 will be hoping that their tougher stance towards resolving the country's political crisis eventually leads to democratic elections and an end to the crisis. But they have a long and challenging way ahead of them.
  • South Africa: Open New Johannesburg Refugee Center
    Jun 2, 2011
    The South African government should quickly open a new refugee reception center in Johannesburg, Human Rights Watch said today. The closing of the existing center on June 1, 2011, will make it even harder for asylum seekers to lodge claims in the country’s chronically overburdened asylum system, which increases asylum seekers’ risk of being caught without the required permit to stay in the country and deported, Human Rights Watch said.
  • Inclusive Government in Political Crisis
    Apr 14, 2011
    The announcement in December 2010 by President Robert Mugabe that his party, the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), would leave the country’s inclusive government and hold elections towards the end of this year should sound alarm bells across the region.
  • SADC: Press Mugabe to End Crackdown
    Mar 29, 2011
    The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) should publicly press President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and his party to end their harassment and arbitrary arrests of civil society activists and political opponents. The SADC is meeting beginning March 31, 2011, in Livingstone, Zambia.
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