• 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.

  • 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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  • 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
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Zimbabwe

  • Zimbabwe: Police Raid Threatens Broader Crackdown
    Nov 9, 2012
    The Zimbabwe government’s raid on a civil society group raises fears of a broader crackdown on perceived opposition activists ahead of elections due in 2013.
  • Zimbabwe: End Attacks on LGBT People
    Aug 27, 2012
    The Zimbabwean government should immediately stop persecuting members of Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ), Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe.
  • Zimbabwe: Letter to President Mugabe and Prime Minister Tsvangirai
    Aug 27, 2012
    On August 20, 2012, police officers entered and occupied the offices of GALZ in Harare for six hours producing a warrant only after the GALZ lawyers demanded it. They confiscated documents, advocacy materials and computers. GALZ advocates for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Zimbabwe.
  • SADC: Press Angola, Zimbabwe on Rights as Elections Near
    Aug 14, 2012
    Leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) meeting this week should press the governments of Angola and Zimbabwe to improve human rights conditions in advance of upcoming national elections. SADC’s annual heads of state summit is scheduled for August 17 and 18, 2012, in Maputo, Mozambique.
  • Awards for Rights Activists from Congo, Libya
    Aug 14, 2012
    Abbé Benoît Kinalegu from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Salah Marghani from Libya have been selected as recipients of the prestigious Alison Des Forges Award for Extraordinary Activism. Recipients of this award are leading voices for justice in their countries, working relentlessly to protect the rights and dignity of others.
  • Farai Maguwu, Zimbabwe
    Aug 12, 2012
    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: Diamond Abuses Show Need for Reforms
    Jun 4, 2012

    Members of the international diamond monitoring body known as the Kimberley Process (KP) should press Zimbabwe to address human rights abuses in its diamond fields. They should also reform the KP certification scheme to address human rights violations. The Kimberley Process, which is currently chaired by the United States, will meet in Washington, DC from June 4 to 7, 2012 for its annual meeting to discuss the mining and trading of conflict diamonds.

  • Zimbabwe: Six Sentenced for Watching Arab Spring Video
    Mar 21, 2012
    The government of Zimbabwe should drop all charges against six civil society activists convicted for watching a video of Arab Spring protests in 2011. The six, who alleged they were tortured to confess to planning violence, were sentenced to two-year suspended sentences, a US$500 fine, and 420 hours of community service on March 21, 2012.
  • EU: Keep Sanctions on Mugabe’s Inner Circle
    Feb 17, 2012

    The European Union should maintain its travel restrictions and asset freezes on President Robert Mugabe and his inner circle until Zimbabwe carries out concrete human rights and institutional reforms, ahead of this year’s national elections. The EU is conducting its annual review of its sanctions policy toward Zimbabwe and is scheduled to announce a decision on February 17, 2012. 

  • 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. 

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