By TellZim Reporter
Masvingo province recorded 11 human rights violations in February 2026, marking a notable
decline from previous months when it consistently ranked among the highest in the country.
However, recent findings show that serious concerns remain around access to basic
services, political interference, and media freedom.
According to the February 2026 report by the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), a total of 105
human rights violations were recorded nationwide, affecting 3,205 victims. Of these, 1,651
were women including 24 women with disabilities while 1,554 were men, including 14 men
with disabilities.
In Masvingo, the reported violations point to ongoing challenges in socio-economic rights,
political discrimination, and restrictions on press freedom.
“One of the most serious violations relates to the denial of the right to healthcare,” reads part
of the report. “Gawa Clinic operated for nearly a month without basic medication such as
painkillers, forcing patients, including children, to travel about eight kilometres to Mashoko
Hospital and incur unaffordable medical and transport costs,” reads part of the report.
The report also highlights the continued politicisation of food aid and social welfare
programmes across the province.
“Several cases reflected politicisation and discrimination in the distribution of food aid and
social welfare assistance, where beneficiaries were excluded or intimidated based on
perceived political affiliation or local disputes, such as in Zaka Central and Mwenezi East,”
reads the report.
In Chiredzi East, community members were reportedly pressured to contribute funds
towards refurbishing a police base, while drought relief distributions were accompanied by
messaging encouraging support for the 2030 political agenda.
Media freedoms were also affected after two journalists from a local media house were
barred by police from covering the installation ceremony of Chief Chikwanda, with access
granted only to the state broadcaster.
Overall, the violations point to a broader pattern of political interference in humanitarian
assistance, shrinking civic space, and persistent barriers to essential public services.
The report attributes most violations to state-linked actors. The Zimbabwe Republic Police
(ZRP) accounted for 21.12% of cases, while ZANU PF members were responsible for
35.46%, mainly through political intimidation, coercion, and interference with freedoms of
assembly, association, and expression.
Local councils accounted for 15.14% of violations, while school authorities contributed
11.55%, often exerting control over civic and community spaces. Traditional leaders made
up 6.37% of perpetrators, with other government officials and suspected state agents each
accounting for 3.59%. The Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) accounted for 1.20%, while
1.99% of perpetrators had no known affiliation.
Nationally, Harare recorded the highest number of violations at 30 cases, followed by
Manicaland (17) and Matabeleland North (16). Mashonaland East recorded eight cases,
Mashonaland West seven, and Mashonaland Central six, while Bulawayo and Midlands
recorded four cases each.
