The Unsettling Reality of Peace in Zimbabwe
An alarming 71.2% of Zimbabweans have been deeply affected by political or social violence in the last year, according to the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) 2025 State of Peace in Zimbabwe report. This figure reveals a nation grappling with an unprecedented level of turmoil, where millions are struggling just to meet their basic needs.
The report highlights a society caught between the promises of peace and the harsh realities of fear. While the constitution guarantees freedom, justice, and security, the lived experiences of ordinary citizens tell a different story—one marked by broken institutions, deep political divisions, and a loss of public trust.
The findings underscore a country at war with itself, where corruption, economic hardship, and political intolerance have become the silent forces behind instability. According to ZimRights, 33.1% of citizens witnessed direct political violence, while 51.1% reported experiencing social violence. Only 44.2% of respondents feel safe in their communities, indicating that peace is more of an ideal than a reality.
Confidence in law enforcement is particularly low, with only 17.9% of citizens trusting the police. This lack of trust has led many to turn to churches, traditional leaders, and non-governmental organizations for mediation and support instead of relying on the police or government. The report also notes that Zimbabwe ranks 141 out of 163 countries on the Global Peace Index, emphasizing the urgent need for change.
A Legacy of Violence and Inaction
The roots of Zimbabwe’s current crisis can be traced back to post-independence leadership failures. The liberation war that ended colonial rule in 1980 initially raised hopes for justice and reconciliation. However, these hopes were quickly dashed. The late former president Robert Mugabe’s 1980 reconciliation speech, often seen as a unifying gesture, never translated into a genuine national peace policy.
Instead, within two years, the country was plunged into the Gukurahundi massacres, where the state used military force against civilians in Matabeleland and the Midlands, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 20,000 people. This event exposed the enduring legacy of colonial violence, which the new rulers failed to dismantle. Each time power felt threatened, this machinery of repression was reactivated, leading to further cycles of violence.
The report emphasizes that the post-colonial government inherited instruments of oppression and never worked to dismantle them. This failure has left fear as a defining characteristic of the national psyche today.
Calls for Justice and Reforms
Decades of calls for transitional justice—aimed at healing wounds and establishing accountability—have largely gone unanswered. From the landmark Breaking the Silence report by the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in 1997 to the present day, these appeals have been ignored, allowing trauma and mistrust to deepen.
The new ZimRights report identifies rampant corruption, economic decline, and political polarization as key disruptors of peace. Since the disputed 2018 elections, tensions between the ruling Zanu PF party and opposition groups have escalated into a toxic divide that periodically erupts into violence.
Nearly 60% of citizens feel unsafe participating in peaceful demonstrations, and 47.6% say they have been threatened for exercising basic freedoms. Civil society groups face increasing restrictions under the law and a hostile policing environment.
Resilience Amidst Adversity
Despite the despair, the report highlights signs of resilience. Across all 10 provinces, communities continue to express a vision for an inclusive and just Zimbabwe. Many respondents called for training in conflict resolution (53.4%), empowerment (36.7%), and collaborative platforms that link economic opportunity to social cohesion.
A recent Right to Peace roundtable brought together peacebuilders and thought leaders who urged the state to strengthen statutory oversight bodies, particularly the Zimbabwe Independent Complaints Commission, and to rebuild trust through reform, accountability, and dialogue.
ZimRights warns that ignoring these calls will come at a high cost: the normalization of fear, the erosion of civic faith, and the continued flight of talent and investment.
The Path Forward
While the promise of peace, justice, and human rights remains aspirational for many, Zimbabweans still demonstrate resilience and a clear vision for a more inclusive future. The tragedy is that a generation born long after independence continues to inherit a culture of fear their parents fought to end.
Until corruption is addressed and politics ceases to be a theatre of intimidation, the word “peace” will remain one of Zimbabwe’s most abused ideals. For now, the gap between formal guarantees and lived realities defines the country’s uneasy calm.