ZANU‑PF at the Helm:
Power, Abuse and Systemic Corruption
Human Rights Abuses
Independent monitoring by the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) consistently identifies ZANU‑PF as the leading perpetrator of rights violations. In June 2024, ZANU‑PF was responsible for 65% of all recorded violations, with total incidents reaching 137 cases, including assaults, forced participation in political events, and intimidation. Earlier in the year, February saw 188 reported violations, 54.8% attributed to ZANU‑PF action. Civil society and opposition figures are routinely targeted via arrests, prosecutions on trumped-up charges, and violence, tools used by the regime to quell dissent.
Corruption and Crony Capitalism
Corruption is deeply entrenched in Zimbabwe’s political economy. Transparency International ranked Zimbabwe at 21/100 on its 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index: 158th of 180 countries. State institutions, including the judiciary and police, have been repurposed to serve party interests. High-profile scandals include the Command Agriculture fraud, a COVID‑19 mask scheme, and a cancer‑machine contract, all tied to ZANU‑PF officials or associates. Notably, Kudakwashe Tagwirei, a close associate of President Mnangagwa, is sanctioned by the US and UK for exploiting political connections to profit from state contracts and foreign currency deals. Wicknell Chivhayo and many others are benefiting from corruption at the expense of the starving citizens.
Economic Collapse & Elite Reshuffling
Zimbabwe’s economy collapsed in the 2000s following chaotic land reform policies and institutional decay. From 1999 to 2008, GDP halved, amid global isolation, hyperinflation, and starvation, not as the result of war, but of mismanagement and policy failure. Attempts at internal party reform have yielded cycles of elite reshuffling rather than transformation. As one commentator noted, ZANU‑PF’s factional battles may change faces but not behavior. Today we witness many Zimbabwean scattered all over the world enduring all sorts of pain trying to make ends meet. On the 7th of August 2025 Donald Trump stopped all Zimbabweans from applying for US visas in Zimbabwe with immediate effect, except those traveling on government and diplomatic business. This he claims is a measure put in place to curb the increase of illegal immigrant and he quoted that Zimbabwean had a significant number of visitors who overstayed their visits upon granted visas to travel to US. Had our economy been stable few would have left the country.
Heroes Day & Defence Forces Day: Liberation Ideals vs Modern Reality
Heroes Day and Defence Forces Day are intended to be moments of national pride and remembrance of liberation sacrifices. But the liberation ethos has been co-opted by ZANU‑PF to entrench its power: framing critics and even democratic expression as disloyal to national ideals.
- Heroes of the independence struggle—who fought for justice and collective dignity—stand in contrast to today's leadership accused of perpetuating authoritarianism, economic deprivation, and corruption. The likes of Blessed Geza have shown utter revulsion to the rotten corrupt leadership which recycles clueless leaders who are motivated by selfish interests.
- Defence Forces Day, with its military parades and praise for the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, highlights the centrality of the security services to regime survival. These same institutions are used today to silence opponents, enforce partisan agendas, and suppress dissent.
1 August 2008 is a clear example of the abuse of state security apparatus to oppress the citizen and violating their human rights and freedom. Commemorations become rituals that celebrate past heroism but obscure the present betrayal of those ideals. Military uniforms on display serve as comforting symbolism yet the same uniformed bodies often facilitate human rights violations.
Conclusion
As Zimbabwe marks Heroes Day and Defence Forces Day, the commemorations risk becoming hollow ceremonies unless accompanied by meaningful accountability. The very party that claims liberation credentials, ZANU‑PF has been repeatedly linked to widespread rights violations, elite corruption, and economic collapse.
To restore integrity to these national holidays, Zimbabwe must:
- Break the fusion of party and state institutions,
- Reform security and judicial systems to uphold rights,
- End impunity for corruption at the highest levels,
- Reclaim the liberation ideals from political exploitation.
Only then can Heroes Day and Defence Forces Day serve as true reminders of sacrifice; not as tools for legitimizing the current regime.
References
Wikipedia+15Legal News Feed+15herald+15
The Zimbabwe Indpendent+1NewsDay Zimbabwe+1
NCBIWikipedia.
Wikipedia.
AP News+1TIME+1.
Wikipedia+1NCBI+1.