On 11 April, President Emmerson Mnangagwa signed the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Amendment Act into law. This legislation gives authorities broad powers to regulate the governance of civil society organisations (CSOs), under the stated aim of combating terrorism financing and money laundering. It permits investigations into the funding and ownership of CSOs, and authorises the government to deregister or dissolve organisations, seize their assets, and remove or replace their leadership without judicial oversight. The law also introduces severe penalties, including prison sentences of up to 35 years, for offenses such as misrepresentation or illegal financing. Observers have warned that the law is intended to suppress dissent, and that it will restrict civic space and undermine freedoms of association. In response to the passing of the legislation, the European Union announced the suspension of its planned 2025 funding for governance reforms, citing concerns over the constraints on civic space.

Sources: Zimbabwean Government Gazette, ZimLive, ZimEye, European Union Ambassador to Zimbabwe, International IDEA

On 31 March, Zimbabweans participated in a national ‘stayaway’ that shut down schools, public transport and businesses across the country in the first mass protest since 2019. The stayaway was in response to calls for street protests against President Mnangagwa made by Blessed Geza, a former member of the ruling Zanu-PF party who is pushing for Mnangagwa to be replaced by his vice president, Constantino Chiwenga, citing corruption and economic mismanagement. However, most chose to stay away rather than take to the streets, amid a heightened police presence. The Zimbabwean police said they had arrested 95 protesters and local press reported that nine journalists were briefly detained. The stayaway took place against a backdrop of growing political tensions over attempts by some within Zanu-PF to extend Mnangagwa’s term beyond the constitutionally mandated limit.     

Sources: British Broadcasting Corporation (1), The Africa Report, British Broadcasting Corporation (2), New Zimbabwe, Africa Confidential 

Political violence surged in February, driven by rising political tensions over attempts by some within the ruling Zanu-PF party to extend President Mnangagwa’s term beyond the constitutionally mandated limit. These efforts, known as the ‘2030 agenda’, have split the party, pitting Mnangagwa and his allies against another faction led by his vice president. The agenda has also drawn criticism from the political opposition and civil society and has increasingly destabilised the country. The Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), an NGO, reported that 7,292 people had been affected by human rights violations in February, up from 3,161 in January 2025 and 1,460 in December 2024. These violations included threats of violence, politically motivated assaults, unfair distribution of food aid, and restrictions on freedom of assembly, association and expression. The majority of abuses were perpetrated by people connected to Zanu-PF and while most victims were politically unaffiliated, ZPP noted an increase in intra-party violence within the ruling party. 

Sources: ISS Africa, Africa Confidential, Zimbabwe Peace Project (1), Zimbabwe Peace Project (2), Zimbabwe Peace Project (3)  

On 31 December, President Mnangagwa signed into law the Death Penalty Abolition Bill which, with immediate effect, ends the practice of capital punishment, prohibits Zimbabwean courts from imposing capital sentences and mandates them to re-sentence prisoners who had received a death sentence. The legislation, however, contains a clause authorising the use of the death penalty during a public emergency. Zimbabwe has not carried out the death penalty since 2005, but prior to the legal abolition of the practice courts had continued to hand down capital sentences and, according to Amnesty International, there were at least 59 people on death row at the end of 2023.  

Sources: Death Penalty Abolition Act, The Herald, Amnesty International