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Political Persecution
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- Written by: Desire Munyaradzi KUNAKA with Claude AI as Research Assistant
- Category: ZEXIT
- Hits: 408
Political persecution in Zimbabwe remains a serious and ongoing issue under President Emmerson Mnangagwa's government. Here's an overview of the current situation:
Recent Pattern of Repression
The authorities have continued to weaponize the criminal justice system against perceived critics and the political opposition, with impunity for ruling party ZANU-PF violence, intimidation, harassment, and repression against opposition members and civil society activists restricting civic and political space.
Scale of Human Rights Violations
According to the Zimbabwe Peace Project, 7,292 people were affected by human rights violations in February 2025, a dramatic increase from 3,161 in January 2025 and 1,460 in December 2024. These violations included threats of violence, politically motivated assaults, unfair distribution of food aid, and restrictions on freedom of assembly, association and expression.
Mass Arrests and Detention
Ahead of the August 2024 Southern African Development Community summit in Harare, authorities intensified their crackdown, arresting more than 160 people, including a religious leader, elected parliament and council officials, political activists, union leaders, students, and journalists. While many were eventually acquitted or given suspended sentences, cases of abuse in custody were reported.
Walking For Freedom
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- Written by: Samuel Jambaya
- Category: Walk for Freedom
- Hits: 712
Activists Unite in Brighton to walk to London - 105km walk
Zimbabwe Human Rights Organisation (ZHRO) will lead the annual "Walk For Freedom" from Brighton Pier to Hampton Court, London
ZHRO courage mirrors that of many other Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) activists who have suffered arrests, abductions, and torture simply for demanding change. For years, ZANU PF has governed through fear. But with bold steps the August 9–10 will not be remembered as just another pair of days in Zimbabwe’s political calendar. These will be remember as the days when brave citizens like:--
Rashie Bayisayi, John Burke, Samuel Jambaya, Melody Magejo, Josephine Jenje Mudimbu, Patson Muzuwa, Shepherd Yuda, Elizabeth Chitengo, Evy Kagandi, Mgcini Victor Hlophe, Nobukhosi Dube, Dickson Chikwizo, Tawandda Matangambiri, Ettar Patience Mhlanga, Shamiso Moyo, Velisiwe Ndhlovu, Kelvin T Mhlanga, Moses Mabno, Victor Simon, Genius Mamwadhu and Irene Munyaradzi - all stepped forward to walk for freedom—defying a system that thrives on fear, silence, and repression.
We are going to walk not in fear, but in defiance, not in silence but in the thunderous voice of people who refuse to be crushed. We walk for freedom – a freedom long overdue. A freedom stolen. A freedom denied.
Gathering across cities, villages, and hearts, united against a regime that has forgotten what it means to serve. ZANU PF, your time is up. Your betrayal of the Zimbabwean people is written in the tears of our mothers, the blood of our youth, and the graves of our fallen comrades.
- We walk for the brave sons and daughters abducted in the night for speaking truth.
- We walk for those tortured for demanding bread, jobs, and dignity.
- We walk for journalists silenced, for students beaten, for women brutalised.
- We walk for For Itai Dzamara For the countless others whose names we may never know, but whose spirits walk with us today.
And yes – we walk during Heroes Day not by accident, but with purpose.
For too long, Heroes Day has been hijacked by those who claim liberation while practicing oppression Heroes Acre was built to honor the brave sons and daughters of our land—those who sacrificed everything for our freedom, justice, and dignity. It was meant to unite us, to remind us of the price of independence, and to inspire future generations.
But today, we must speak the truth: Heroes Acre is being misused by ZANU-PF.
It has become a political tool, where hero status is no longer based on sacrifice or service to the people—but on loyalty to a party. National heroes are now chosen not by merit, but by political favor. This desecrates the memories of true liberators and turns a sacred monument into a stage for propaganda.
We cannot allow a place meant to symbolize unity and national pride to be reduced to a party shrine. Heroes Acre belongs to the nation—not to a political party.
Repressed Memory - Zanu PF torture
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- Written by: Victor Simon and Claud ai
- Category: ZEXIT
- Hits: 748
Hi Claude, I wonder if you are able to verify any of the following details obtained as a testimony from Victor Simon (a member of ZHRO) it is in regards on the torture of his parents by Zanu PF youths in June 2008. In their house at 5319 Epworth overspill, Harare. In respect of Mr Patric Simon (father) being a local chairman of MDC at that time. On the 27th June 2008 all 6 of the Simon family fled to South Africa - illegally entering SA across the Limpopo River. Mr Patric Simon died on 29th Oct 2008 and his wife on 24th March 2009 - both from their injuries during their torture. Can any of this be substantiated during the period in question - but give the mass intimidation campaigns by the regime AND the mass exodus from Zimbabwe during the 2008 elections?
I'll search for information about the 2008 Zimbabwe elections and the documented cases of political violence during that period to help verify the context of these claims. {Image: taken from ZHRO Flickr Pro Account of the Leeds Walk for Freedom 12th July 2025 taken by John Burke, Founder of ZHRO}
Zimbabwe 2008 election violence MDC torture Zanu PF
10 results
- “Bullets for Each of You”: State-Sponsored Violence since Zimbabwe’s March 29 Elections | HRW hrw.org
- Zimbabwe: ZANU-PF Sets Up 'Torture Camps' hrw.org
- Learning and performing political violence: ZANU-PF Youth and the 2008 presidential run-off election in Zimbabwe: African Studies: Vol 79, No 4 tandfonline.com
- "Bullets for Each of You": State-Sponsored Violence since Zimbabwe’s March 29 Elections: IV. Background hrw.org
- 2008 Zimbabwean general election – Wikipedia wikipedia.org
- 2008 Human Rights Report: Zimbabwe state.gov
- Perpetual Fear: Impunity and Cycles of Violence in Zimbabwe | HRW hrw.org
- Zimbabwe - Elections, Aftermath, Politics | Britannica britannica.com
- (PDF) Learning and performing political violence: ZANU- PF Youth and the 2008 presidential run-off election in Zimbabwe academia.edu
- Amnesty International has documented unlawful killings, torture and other ill-treatment of human rights defenders in Zimbabwe following elections on March 29, 2008.
- amnestyusa.org
Intimidation - Zanu PF - GUILTY
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- Written by: John C Burke
- Category: ZEXIT
- Hits: 907
nehandaradio.com - 15th July 2025 - Zanu PF Leading Prepetration of Intimidation
{{Source: www.zimrights.org.zw However being blocked by Firewall}} Also (see below - in italics) reinforced by Human Rights Watch
In 2024, Zimbabwean authorities acted to undermine democratic processes, repressed civil society and restricted political pluralism. They continued to weaponize the criminal justice system against perceived critics and the political opposition. Impunity for the ruling party ZANU-PF violence, intimidation, harassment, and repression against opposition members and civil society activists restricted civic and political space.
The authorities failed to uphold the government’s domestic and international human rights obligations to respect peaceful activism.
Intensified Crackdown on Government Critics
Ahead of the August 17 Southern African Development Community (SADC) heads of state summit in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, the authorities intensified the crackdown on opposition members and civil society activists. Security forces arrested more than 160 people, including a religious leader, elected parliament and council officials, political activists, union leaders, students, and journalists.
Human Rights Watch
Nehandaradio Report
Zanu-PF identified as leading perpetrator of human rights violations in Zimbabwe
HARARE – The ruling Zanu-PF party has been identified as the leading perpetrator of human rights violations across Zimbabwe last year, according to a report released by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) on Tuesday.
The 2024 Annual Report, titled “RISING STILL: COMMUNITY RESILIENCE IN THE STRUGGLE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN ZIMBABWE,” has indicated that members of Zanu-PF were responsible for the highest number of documented human rights violations in 2024. According to the report, ZimRights documented 274 human rights violations affecting a total of 8,279 people in 2024. Of these, 4,457 were females and 3,822 were males.
Auxillia Fails to Attend FLAIR
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- Written by: Lloyd Shumbayaonda ZHRO,CCC Vice Treasurer, Manchester Branch
- Category: Take2Zimbabwe
- Hits: 716
Auxillia Mnangagwa Fails to Attend FLAIR Summit in London Amidst Controversy
The First Ladies of African Impact & Resilience (FLAIR) Summit, scheduled for June 17-18, 2025, at the Leonardo Royal Hotel in London, was expected to host Auxillia Mnangagwa, the First Lady of Zimbabwe. However, it appears she did not attend the summit amidst widespread criticism from Zimbabweans in the UK and concerns over human rights abuses.
Background to the Controversy
The FLAIR Summit aims to promote women's empowerment, impact, and resilience. However, Auxillia Mnangagwa's potential attendance sparked outrage due to her association with Zimbabwe's repressive Zanu PF regime and documented human rights abuses. Zimbabweans in the UK petitioned the UK Prime Minister and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to deny Auxillia a visa, citing her role in a regime that contributes to the suffering of Zimbabwean women ¹.
Reasons Behind the Outcry- Human Rights Abuses:
Zimbabwe's maternal mortality rate increased to 114 per 100,000 live births in 2023, reflecting the dire state of healthcare under Zanu PF governance.
- Lack of Transparency:
The circumstances surrounding Auxillia's invitation as "patron elect" raised questions about potential funding influence and motives behind her participation.
- Contradiction to FLAIR Summit's Ethos:
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