Zimbabwe ranked among repressed and worst countries by global human rights watchdog
Zimbabwe has been rated a mere 30 out of 100 in human rights by CIVICUS, a global watchdog, characterising it as a highly repressed nation.
This score places Zimbabwe just above Angola (28) and Eswatini (9) within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
The CIVICUS report tracks civic freedoms, including the rights to association, assembly, and expression across 198 nations. The report attributes Zimbabwe's low ranking to the actions of the ruling Zanu PF government, which occurred particularly in the context of the SADC Heads of State and Government Summit hosted in Harare last August.
It documented widespread repression, notably the abduction and torture of human rights defenders and political activists, severely disrupting freedoms. Zimbabwe's score draws parallels with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), countries where similar political and human rights abuses are prevalent.
The CIVICUS findings indicated that over 160 individuals, including political leaders and journalists, faced detention ahead of the summit; such actions signal a troubling political environment. Activists reported instances of severe mistreatment, with some managing to appear in court bearing visible injuries.
In its prior assessment, CIVICUS condemned the legitimacy of Zimbabwe's elections, labelling them a mere formality to legitimise President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime.
"President Emmerson Mnangagwa of the Zanu PF party had another term confirmed through an election in which he used every trick in the book to ensure a favourable result,” the report read.
Zimbabwe has faced significant challenges regarding human rights and governance, particularly under the rule of the Zanu PF party. Following the removal of long-standing dictator Robert Mugabe, expectations for democratisation rose, yet under the leadership of Emmerson Mnangagwa, political repression and abuses have reportedly persisted.
Human rights organisations have consistently critiqued the government's stance towards dissent, alleging systematic attacks on activists and opposition figures.
