Zimbabwe’s Human Rights Abusers Go Unpunished, Says U.S. Report

The U.S. Department of State has released a critical report on Zimbabwe’s human rights record in 2024. President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government is accused of widespread rights violations, including torture, arbitrary arrests, and restrictions on free expression.

The report found that police and security forces continued to harass opposition members, journalists, and civil society activists. It cited the arrest of more than 160 activists in the run-up to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit in Harare, many of whom were held without bail.

The United States Department of State said that the government did not take credible steps to identify and punish officials who committed human rights abuses. The country’s poor record has been a major stumbling block for Mnangagwa in his attempts to re-engage with the West.