Human Rights Report August 2026

The 137 human rights violations (HRVs) documented during the month should not be viewed as isolated incidents. Rather, they point to recurring patterns of abuse, discrimination, coercion and failures by duty-bearers and other actors to uphold and protect fundamental rights and human dignity.

A total of 1,151 people were affected. 626 were males and 525 women, and among them 10 persons with disabilities as citizens experienced restrictions on their freedoms and access to rights, often in circumstances involving political, institutional or personal interests. The violations ranged from denial of social services, restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, unjustified arrests and detention, forced displacement, violations of personal security and discrimination.

The profile of perpetrators remains a significant concern. ZANU PF members accounted for 30.85% of documented perpetrators, followed by local authorities at 14.95%, government officials at 14.95%, traditional leaders at 14.02%, and members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) at 11.21%. Other perpetrators included state security agents (3.74%), school authorities (1.87%), and artisanal miners (0.94%). In 7.47% of cases, perpetrators could not be linked to a specific organisation or institution.

Provincially, Manicaland recorded the highest number of violations with 25, followed by Harare with 20, Mashonaland Central 19, Mashonaland West recorded 16. Masvingo and Midlands both recorded 14 each, while Mashonaland East had 11, Matabeleland South 8, Bulawayo 6, and Matabeleland North 4.

In the ‘Towards sustainable Peace in Zimbabwe section’, ZPP commended the Parliament of Zimbabwe for the Zimbabwe Youth Model Parliament 2026. In “Ten Steps Backwards,” this report examines two issues of particular concern: traditional leadership and the erosion of rights, including the abuse or politicisation of customary authority; and the protection of dignity and livelihoods during the removal of vendors from undesignated trading spaces. Both issues demonstrate how the exercise of authority, when unchecked by constitutional principles, can directly affect citizens’ dignity, freedoms, livelihoods and access to justice. Ultimately, the August findings underscore the urgent need to strengthen accountability, ensure that all duty-bearers operate within constitutional limits, and place the rights, dignity and protection of citizens at the centre of governance and public action.

MMR August 2026 (2)

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