Opinion / Columnist
Democracy under siege
17 hrs ago | Views
Zimbabwe's democratic space faces significant challenges, rooted in decades of authoritarian rule by the ZANU-PF party, which has governed since 1980.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, in power since the 2017 coup that ousted Robert Mugabe, has faced mounting criticism for undermining democratic institutions. His administration is laced with corruption, nepotism, and suppressing dissent.
The situation has significantly deteriorated under Emmerson Mnangagwa's leadership. The country's democratic space has been shut down, and the keys have been tossed into the ocean. Only by allowing different points of view will Zimbabwe be able to realise its full potential.
Police have interrupted opposition press conferences without providing specific, justifiable reasons for their prohibition.
The security apparatuses vehemently oppose any form of dissent or demonstration against the inadequate leadership of this dictatorship. In order to further his own goals, Emmerson Mnangagwa has been misusing the security forces.
Nearly 100 of the election campaign rallies of the Citizens Coalition for Change, Zimbabwe's former main opposition party led by Nelson Chamisa, have been prohibited by the police for trivial reasons, including inadequate facilities and a lack of money to support the event.
The primary rival, Zanu PF, was threatened by the CCC party, which was established in 2022. The main opposition party is still being suppressed by the Emmerson Mnangagwa-led administration using all of the state apparatus at its disposal.
Politically motivated policing is a surefire way to fail and will not be good for a democracy. Only the ruling party permits its activists and supporters to march or stage protests.
A notably protest on March 31, 2025, was met with heavy police crackdowns, resulting in 95 arrests for “promoting public violence.”
The ruling party has reduced the amount of democratic space, and it doesn't even slow the registration of private television or radio stations that oppose the government. People are constantly exposed to cheesy propaganda from the state-run media. Dissident voices are silenced.
Without a bail hearing, political activists and opposition leaders are detained and placed in remand detention. Political opponents are still being persecuted.
There are concerns that a lack of robust democratic institutions, procedures, or principles could jeopardise democratic discourse and scientific advancement.
In short, Zimbabwe's democracy is sick and under strain from state repression, electoral manipulation, and economic despair, with little immediate prospect for reform given ZANU-PF's entrenched power and military backing.
Email – konileonard606@gmail.com
X - @Leokoni
Source - Leonard Koni
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