Zimbabweans continue to endure widespread repression and deprivation, according to a new report by the Human Rights Measurement Initiative (HRMI) which shows that the government is failing citizens on both civil and political freedoms.
The HRMI released last week said Zimbabwe scored badly on civil and political liberties, netting 3.7 out of 10 places meaning large swathes of the population cannot fully exercise freedoms of speech, assembly and association.
The HRMI right’s tracker the score sits below the global average of the countries it sampled.
On safety from the state, Zimbabwe scored 5.7 out of 10, indicating that many citizens face risks of arbitrary arrest, torture or ill treatment, forced disappearance, execution, or extrajudicial killing.
“The data revealed repeated arbitrary detentions and credible allegations of torture in police custody, especially targeting opposition activists and journalists, under laws that grant security forces sweeping powers,” the report read.
“This supports reports from other human rights watch dogs like Amnesty International Zimbabwe, confirming no respite in basic protection, particularly for human rights defenders, pro democracy campaigners, and investigative journalists.”
In the economic and social sphere, Zimbabwe scored 67.8% of its potential Quality of Life benchmark once income is taken into account, placing it in HRMI’s “very bad” range.
On the economic and social rights, the report said the country had a “very bad” range.
- Zimbabwe scores badly on global rights index
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“The right to food, health, and education all fall well below fulfilment,” the report read.
“Several reports highlight chronic food insecurity affecting more than half the population, while public clinics remain under resourced and school attendance has plummeted amid economic collapse.
“Without immediate, comprehensive steps to safeguard civil liberties, hold security forces to account, and invest in basic services, the country risks cementing a cycle of rights violations and social decline.”
HRMI east and southern Africa Lead, NkosiSibanda, said it was concerning that Zimbabweans continue to endure systemic repression and deprivation.
“These scores show not only that civil and political freedoms are being eroded, but that basic economic and social rights, water, sanitation, food, health, and education, are being neglected,” Sibanda said.
“The government must urgently translate its resources into meaningful improvements for its citizens.”
The HRMI is an independent non-profit organisation part of a global movement building a world where all people can flourish.
The HRMI said its research is guided by the Rights Tracker, a global project to measure the human rights performance of countries systematically.
