Zimbabwe Country Focus Report

Zimbabwe is, in principle, a constitutional democracy grounded in a progressive 2013 Constitution endorsed across the political spectrum. In practice, however, constitutional non‑compliance is widespread, civic space remains repressed, and respect for the rule of law is minimal—reflected in the country’s ranking of 124 out of 143 in the World Justice Project’s 2025 Rule of Law Index.

Civic space continued to contract throughout 2025, marked by state securitisation, political intolerance, and systematic restrictions on fundamental freedoms. A restrictive and often punitive legal framework, coupled with an opaque and largely unresponsive State, has rendered the civil society operating environment profoundly disabling. Digital insecurity, intrusive oversight, and an increasingly untenable funding climate have further eroded the ability of civil society organisations (CSOs) to function effectively.

The enactment of the widely criticised Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Act in April 2025 significantly expanded government powers to deregister organisations and monitor their activities. Heightened police presence at community meetings deepened mistrust and undermined safe local engagement. The year also saw a series of unsettling incidents—including arrests of organisers of the 31 March protests, raids on student groups, and the firebombing of civic events ahead of constitutional reform debates—illustrating the volatility and hostility of the operational landscape. These concerns were echoed in ZimRights’ March 2025 report, Choked by Fear.

Despite this climate, some CSOs leveraged limited openings for engagement, such as contributing governance inputs to the African Peer Review Mechanism process. Nonetheless, the broader environment was defined by harassment, fear, and shrinking operational space. While civil society demonstrated resilience, their work increasingly resembled survival rather than meaningful participation. Even so, CSOs remain central to advocating for constitutional compliance, accountability, human rights protection, civic education, humanitarian support, and broader community well‑being.