On August 7, the office of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) was targeted in a break-in attempt by four masked men, leaving staff members in fear for their safety. The CiZC is an alliance of various groups advocating for democratic freedom in Zimbabwe, where expressing dissent can be life-threatening.
Inside the building in Harare, three employees hid as the intruders broke a security camera and attempted to gain entry. It was only when neighbors, who had witnessed the incident, reassured them that the men had left the premises after triggering an alarm that the employees emerged from their hiding place. Since then, they have avoided going to the office. “No one wants to go there. It was a very traumatic experience for them, and they feel unsafe,” said Peter Mutasa, chairperson of CiZC.
Mutasa suspects that the intruders may have been operating on behalf of the government, as the attempt follows accusations from a government-owned newspaper that he is planning demonstrations. “This has been their modus operandi, and there have been threats from the president’s spokesperson,” he adds.
The tense situation in Zimbabwe is escalating ahead of an upcoming summit for the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which will be held in Harare. This is the first time in a decade that the 16-member bloc meets in Zimbabwe, and President Emmerson Mnangagwa is set to assume the chairmanship of SADC, marking an important milestone for his administration.
However, this grand accomplishment is overshadowed by what activists describe as “paranoia” from the government, with police units heavily patrolling the streets in anticipation of protests. Since June, security forces have targeted activists and members of opposition parties, accusing them of attempting to disrupt the summit.
According to Amnesty International, around 160 individuals have been arrested since June, and it has been reported that activists have faced abuse during their arrests and psychological torture in detention.
Mutasa points out that the reprisals reveal a deeper fear within the government. “The government is paranoid. It fears its own people,” he says. “If this were a government elected by the people and confident in its legitimacy, we would not be experiencing what we see now.”
The government, for its part, has accused the opposition of trying to “damage the country’s foreign reputation.” Interior Minister Kazembe Kazembe has stated that sufficient measures have been taken to keep in check those seeking to disrupt peace and order.
Although Mnangagwa took power in 2017 with little expectation from activists, predictions have suggested that his rule would be a continuation of the old regime. With additional reports of past human rights abuses and recent revelations of violations, Zimbabwe finds itself in a critical situation.
As SADC representatives arrive in Harare, staff members of CiZC must navigate the repercussions of this insecurity as fears of escalating violence grow. Mutasa expresses concern that political tensions could lead to a violent government reaction in the aftermath of the summit. “We are preparing for the worst-case scenario. We are now in ZANU-PF’s (Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front) succession mode, and we cannot rule out an escalation,” he concludes.