Happiness T Chayerera
The Zimbabwe Peace Project has recorded 14 cases of human rights violations in Masvingo Province, painting a troubling picture of rising repression, abuse of power, and disregard for basic freedoms.
The violations which are contained in ZPP’s June report include suppression of media freedom, religious discrimination, forced evictions, and violence by traditional authorities.
A particularly alarming incident occurred on June 2, when suspected state security agents vandalized the offices of the Media Centre in Masvingo. The attack followed the publication of an expose’ revealing illegal gold mining activities near Masvingo City Council’s water reservoirs allegedly involving senior Government officials. Journalists from the centre reported surveillance, intimidation, and threats, with some forced into hiding. Human rights observers have condemned the incident as a blatant attack on press freedom and an attempt to silence whistleblowers.
In Chiredzi, a community member was allegedly beaten by Chief Tshovani’s security officer after reporting a local conflict.
Meanwhile, in Village 5, Mwenezi North, a Ward 6 Village Secretary identified as Muhwadzarira reportedly withheld food aid from villagers not affiliated with his church, pressuring them to convert in exchange for access to basic assistance, a clear violation of freedom of religion and equality.
Concerns are also growing in Masvingo South and Chivi South, where residents face possible forced displacements linked to the Tugwi-Mukosi irrigation project and a planned game park. Locals report a lack of consultation, no clear compensation plans, and fumigation activities that may pose health risks. Many fear being evicted without legal recourse or proper resettlement support.
Rights advocates say the combination of political interference, religious bias, and unchecked traditional authority are a systemic erosion of civil liberties in the province.
Calls are growing for independent investigations, greater accountability, and urgent protection for affected communities, journalists, and vulnerable groups in Masvingo.
ZPP, is a peace-promoting organisation that uses human rights lenses in peacebuilding, having established that the deprivation and abuse of human rights pose the greatest threat to peace in Zimbabwe.
The organisation was established in 2000 as a project of civil society and faith-based groups in response to the violence and human rights violations that characterised the political landscape of the time.
These organisations were the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP), the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ), the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZIMRIGHTS), Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), Civic Education Network Trust (CIVNET), Counselling Services Unit (CSU), Zimbabwe Liberators Platform (ZLP) and Non-Violent Action and Strategies for Social Change (NOVASC).
Over the years, the ZPP network of members has evolved as the network welcomed new member organisations while others have developed new thematic interests or have ceased to exist. Current member organisations are the Catholic Commission of Justice and Peace (CCJPZ), Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ), Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC), Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZIMRIGHTS), Counselling Services Unit (CSU), Women and Law Southern Africa (WLSA), National Association for the Care of the Handicapped (NASCOH) and the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ).
