The Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) has raised concerns over what it says is a regression in the protection of human rights across several provinces during December, citing service delivery failures, political discrimination and environmental harm.
In its monthly monitoring report, the civil society organisation said Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South recorded a range of violations affecting socio-economic, political and environmental rights.
Bulawayo recorded three reported violations, with the most serious linked to access to basic services and political freedoms.
“Residents in several areas continued to experience prolonged lack of access to clean water and irregular refuse collection, undermining the rights to health, dignity and a safe environment,” the report said.
ZPP noted that persistent water shortages and poor waste management heightened public health risks and pointed to governance and accountability challenges within local authorities.
The report also flagged alleged political rights violations during the Nkulumane parliamentary by-election, which followed the death of legislator Desire Moyo.
According to ZPP, an independent candidate reported that campaign materials were repeatedly destroyed during the campaign period.
“The tearing down of posters and campaign materials constituted political intimidation and interference with the electoral process, the rights to political participation, freedom of expression and equality in electoral competition,” the organisation said.
Although the poll proceeded and was won by the ruling party, ZPP said the incidents contributed to a climate of fear and undermined the fairness of political competition.
In Matabeleland North Province, the organisation documented eight violations, mainly involving political discrimination, intimidation and exclusion from state-supported programmes.
“In Binga North and Tsholotsho North, government agricultural and empowerment programmes were implemented in a partisan manner,” the report said.
ZPP alleged that opposition supporters were excluded from fertiliser, seed and poultry distribution schemes, infringing the rights to equality, non-discrimination, food and livelihoods. At one distribution point, the report said, violence and intimidation were reported after women perceived to support the opposition challenged the high costs attached to a poultry empowerment programme.
The organisation also cited a case in which a student was reportedly denied access to a state-funded scholarship due to perceived opposition affiliation, describing it as a violation of the right to education and freedom from political persecution. Similar claims of political vetting were reported in recruitment into some state institutions, it added.
In Matabeleland South Province, five violations were recorded, with environmental issues dominating the findings.
“In Gwanda District, operations at the Gwanda Lithium Mine caused severe dust pollution and extensive road damage, adversely affecting surrounding communities, including children,” the report said.
ZPP said the situation raised concerns about violations of the rights to health, a clean and safe environment and human dignity. Community leaders, councillors and traditional authorities reportedly raised the issue during a full council meeting, citing a lack of transparency and accountability by the mining company.
The organisation said similar environmental and governance concerns were reported elsewhere in the province, pointing to what it described as a pattern of extractive activities proceeding without adequate safeguards or meaningful community consultation.
ZPP said its December findings highlighted persistent challenges in the protection of socio-economic, political and environmental rights, and urged authorities to uphold constitutional guarantees, ensure non-partisan access to development programmes and strengthen oversight of mining operations.
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