Data from October, as reported by the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), has shown a sharp fluctuation in human rights violations, with Harare and Matebeleland North Provinces recording the highest increases.
The data consolidated from the country’s 10 provinces showed that there were 116 human rights violations across the country in October 2025, with notable shifts in the locations of these violations compared to September.
The violations affected a total of 2 531 individuals, with 1 360 being females, 1 171 males, and 109 persons with disabilities.
Harare Province recorded 38 violations, the highest for the month, a sharp rise from 18 cases in September, representing a 111.1% increase.
Matabeleland North also saw an increase, with cases rising from 3 in September to 13 in October, posting a 333% increase.
Most other provinces recorded decreases, with Mashonaland West documenting 5 violations, down from 11 in the previous month, while Manicaland recorded 16 cases, a drop from 20 in September.
Masvingo saw one of the biggest decreases, with cases falling from 26 in September to 3 in October, while Mashonaland Central and Midlands each recorded 8 cases, a slight decrease from 10 and 15 the previous month.
Bulawayo recorded 5 cases, the same number reported in September.
The spike in violations in Harare is linked to service delivery failures, political intimidation, targeted arson, and the suppression of civic activity.
These issues continue to affect residents, with many reporting threats, harassment, or limited freedom to express concerns about governance and public services.
While some provinces recorded fewer violations, the overall numbers show that human rights concerns remain widespread.
The changes between September and October suggest shifting hotspots, with Harare and parts of Matabeleland emerging as areas requiring closer attention from authorities and civil society groups monitoring rights and security conditions across Zimbabwe. – IOW Data.
