ZIMBABWE’S CORRUPTION AND HUMAN RIGHTS CRISIS: A STORY OF BROKEN TRUST

In Zimbabwe, the situation of justice and governance is in deep trouble. According to the 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, there is a lot of corruption and serious human rights abuses in the country. The report paints a sad picture of a broken system, where corruption happens on both small and big levels. This corruption ranges from small acts by local officials to big crimes by powerful leaders, creating a feeling of hopelessness among the people.

Small-scale corruption, also known as petty corruption, is very common. This type of corruption happens every day when lower and middle-level public officials abuse their power. Police officers and local government officials are often the ones involved. Their actions directly affect the lives of ordinary people in Zimbabwe. On the other hand, at the highest levels of government, bigger acts of corruption are happening. Powerful officials take part in serious financial crimes like smuggling and money laundering.

To deal with these issues, Zimbabwe has created special anti-corruption courts in its 10 provinces. These courts are meant to fight against corruption. However, they face many problems. There are concerns about political interference, meaning that politicians may be influencing the courts. There are also long delays in finishing important cases, and many investigations are not done properly. A term called “catch and release” is used to describe the way corrupt officials are sometimes arrested but rarely punished, making people lose faith in the legal system.

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) is the main organization responsible for fighting corruption. However, ZACC can only arrest people; it cannot prosecute them, which makes it harder to bring criminals to justice. In 2022, the number of corruption complaints recorded by ZACC dropped by 38% compared to the previous year. Despite this decrease, many people question if ZACC’s efforts are actually working.

Adding to the country’s problems, a documentary by Al Jazeera called ‘Gold Mafia’ revealed how high-ranking officials were involved in smuggling gold and laundering money through foreign banks. The documentary even pointed fingers at people close to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, showing how corruption in Zimbabwe goes beyond its borders.

The human rights situation in Zimbabwe is just as bad, especially in its prisons. The prisons are overcrowded, and there is not enough food and water for everyone. The living conditions are dirty, and there are reports of physical abuse. These issues make life in Zimbabwe’s prisons a nightmare. One prison, Harare Remand Prison, is said to be severely overcrowded, with prisoners facing daily violence and horrible treatment.

What makes things even worse is that children under the age of four who live in the prisons with their mothers also suffer. These children share the little food that is given, showing how the system fails to take care of its most vulnerable members. Such conditions break basic human rights and show how the government is not looking out for the weak.

Outside of the prisons, human rights violations continue, especially in the political arena. During elections, some killings happen that are politically motivated. For example, the deaths of Persuade Mandara and Tapfumaneyi Masaya, who was an opposition activist, show how far some will go to remove political threats.

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Zimbabwe are also facing pressure from the government. These groups, which are supposed to help the country, are being harassed. The government sees them as enemies rather than partners. There are reports of NGOs being spied on, raided, and their workers arrested. State media and social platforms play a part in attacking NGOs, especially those that get funding from the West.

As Zimbabwe goes through its election process, voter intimidation, especially in rural areas, remains a big problem. A group linked to national intelligence, called Forever Associates Zimbabwe (Faz), has been accused of trying to influence election results by scaring voters. This shows that the path to a fair and democratic society in Zimbabwe is still full of obstacles.

In summary, the state of human rights and justice in Zimbabwe is very bad. Corruption is everywhere, and human rights abuses are widespread. As more and more voices call for change, it is clear that fixing these problems will take a lot of effort. The road ahead is not easy, but real change is needed for Zimbabwe to move forward.