The 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices has revealed severe issues of corruption and human rights abuses in Zimbabwe. Despite having specialized anti-corruption courts in all 10 provinces, the report shows major problems like political interference and poor investigations that weaken the judicial system’s efforts to fight corruption.

In Zimbabwe, petty corruption is a common part of daily life. Low- to mid-level officials, including police and local authorities, often engage in corrupt activities. Even worse, high-level political elites use their power for personal gain. An investigation by Al Jazeera, titled ‘Gold Mafia’, exposes top officials involved in gold smuggling and money laundering through international banks in South Africa and the UAE. Notable figures close to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, such as Ambassador-at-Large Uebert Angel and Zimbabwe Miners’ Federation president Henrietta Rushwaya, are implicated in these illegal activities.

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) also faces criticism for its lack of effectiveness. Although ZACC handled 684 complaints in 2022, a 38 percent decrease from the previous year, its lack of prosecutorial power results in a ‘catch and release’ situation. Corrupt officials are detained but not convicted, leading to ongoing corruption.

Zimbabwe’s prisons are under harsh scrutiny. Overcrowded and underfunded, these prisons pose serious threats to inmate welfare. Reports frequently mention food shortages, lack of clean water, and inadequate medical care. Harare Remand Prison, in particular, is overpopulated and rife with violence and abuse. Former inmates report daily beatings by guards. Children under four, who live with their incarcerated mothers, endure extra hardships, sharing the limited food given to their parents instead of receiving their own.

The government’s failure to address politically motivated violence worsens the human rights situation. Specific cases, such as the murder of Persuade Mandara by the Zimbabwe Republic Police under suspicious circumstances linked to grain theft, and the abduction and killing of CCC activist Tapfumaneyi Masaya, highlight a pattern of impunity and government wrongdoing.

During elections, voter intimidation by groups associated with the Central Intelligence Organisation is documented. These groups pretend to conduct exit polls but actually coerce voters, undermining the democratic process.

Human rights defenders and non-governmental organizations constantly face harassment and surveillance. They are often labeled as threats to national security or agents of foreign influence. In a notable case, lawyers Doug Coltart and Tapiwa Muchineripi were arrested while representing victims of abduction and torture. This reflects the state’s broader strategy of suppressing dissent and controlling narratives through fear and repression.

These abuses are part of a larger crisis of governance in Zimbabwe. State institutions are used as tools of political power instead of serving the public and ensuring accountability. The international community and local activists continue to call for substantial reforms and real safeguards to protect human rights and restore justice in Zimbabwe. However, as the situation currently stands, the outlook remains bleak. Corruption is deeply entrenched, and human rights are continually violated.

Zimbabwe faces a dire situation with corruption and human rights abuses deeply rooted in its systems. The need for change is urgent, but significant obstacles remain. The future of Zimbabwe depends on substantial reforms and a commitment to justice and human rights.