COUNTRIES OF CONCERN: ZIMBABWE AND ESWATINI

Ahead of general elections in Zimbabwe, planned for July 2023, the authorities have closed the space to participate in democratic processes and cracked down on civil society and the opposition. The 2022 PVO Amendment Bill, recently passed by both parliamentary chambers and awaiting presidential assent, will see tighter restrictions, undue targeting and closure of prominent CSOs, which were previously not required to register under the PVO Act. The law will give the authorities unfettered, discretionary power to overregulate and interfere in the governance and operations of CSOs and unchecked powers to revoke registrations. Even before the new bill comes into effect, the authorities have arbitrarily deregistered at least 290 CSOs. Since March 2022, the government has embarked on an intimidation and vilification campaign against CSOs and foreign diplomatic missions that have supported CSOs in advocating against the new law. State-controlled outlets have complemented government efforts to delegitimise CSOs through propaganda and a smear campaign, painting CSOs as conduits of foreign agents and criminal activities, among other narratives.

In 2022, there have been several cases of disruption of activities by CSOs and detention of CSO staff. For example, in May 2022, a women’s empowerment meeting organised by Transparency International Zimbabwe and Shamwari yeMwanasikana was disrupted by Central Intelligence Organisation officers for alleged failure to notify local authorities. Three staff members were arrested and charged with convening an unlawful gathering.

In addition to the PVO Amendment Bill, the cabinet approved the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Amendment Bill in November 2022. If passed, this law will criminalise the lobbying of foreign governments to implement or extend sanctions against Zimbabwe and its officials.

Meanwhile, a concerted crackdown on opposition members and their supporters has further closed off democratic space. Opposition members and supporters, in particular the newly formed Citizen Coalition for Change, have been targeted with arrests, attempts to ban its rallies and gatherings and attacks from ruling party supporters.

Authorities in Zimbabwe have continued to crack down on protests and gatherings, including non-political gatherings. Protesters face arbitrary arrests and are regularly prosecuted on charges of incitement to public violence. For example, renowned novelist Tsitsi Dangarembga and co-accused Julie Barnes were found guilty of participating in a gathering with the intent to incite public violence by Harare magistrates’ court on 29 September 2022.

In 2022, the authorities in Eswatini continued with their brutal, retaliatory attacks and arrests targeting activists who mobilise and participate in protests and campaigns calling for democratic reforms, with the latest wave of protests having begun in 2021. Youth activists have been at the forefront of the campaign and have been increasingly targeted by state security agents through tactics including abductions, torture, arrests and intimidation. Student activists Colani Maseko and Sakhile Nxumalo were abducted by the police and assaulted, and Nxumalo was tortured by electric shocks. A wave of arson attacks on public and private property, particularly on properties owned by absolute monarch King Mswati III, escalated to also target those seeking change, such as Wandile Dludlu and Ngomyayona Gamedze, members of the opposition People’s United Democratic Movement which is leading calls for democratic reforms. The authorities also arbitrarily raided the homes of democracy activists under the pretext of searching for illegal firearms, including in the raid on Wandile Dludlu’s house. Police continued to violently disperse protests, with the unnecessary use of rubber bullets and teargas against peaceful protesters.