ZIMBABWE APRM POPULAR SENSITISATION (ZAPS) PROJECT Report of the Validation Workshop

This report documents a validation workshop held on 8 July 2021 by the SIVIO Institute and the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) as part of the Zimbabwe APRM Popular Sensitisation (ZAPS) Project. The workshop aimed to validate findings on key governance issues in Zimbabwe identified by Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to inform a civil society submission to the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).

• The ZAPS Project's civil society submission process was 80% complete as of July 2021, with a final report launch planned for the end of September 2021.
• Constitutionalism in Zimbabwe has been undermined by multiple amendments enacted in 2021 that were allegedly made in contravention of proper procedures. These changes expanded presidential power by allowing the President to appoint judges without a selection process and to appoint the Vice President directly, bypassing the election process provided for in Section 92 of the Constitution.
• Zimbabwe is described as having a militarised political environment where military leaders are installed in strategic political positions and civilian affairs to consolidate power. This has led to organised torture and violence against civilians, while the judiciary has been used to deny bail and prolong pretrial incarcerations.
• The electoral system in Zimbabwe faces significant legitimacy issues, including the presidential appointment of the Zimbabwean Electoral Commission (ZEC) Chairperson and a lack of financial independence for the ZEC. Additionally, the government is accused of using legal and administrative measures to restrict opposition parties' access to state media, resources, and communities.
• Despite having legislative frameworks such as the Prevention of Corruption Act and the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (2020), corruption remains prevalent. Anti-corruption measures are reportedly applied only to 'small fish', while high-profile elite corruption is managed through a 'catch and release' process, aided by political interference in the National Prosecution Authority.
• Accountability and transparency are hindered by the misuse of resources, including Community Development Funds and Covid-19 relief funds, as well as attempts to hide foreign debt obligations and the refusal of ministers to answer parliamentary questions.
• Corporate governance in Zimbabwe's 107 State Enterprises and Parastatals (SEPs) has declined significantly; while SEPs contributed over 40% of GDP in the 1990s, they now contribute less than 2%. This decline is attributed to political interference, lack of compliance with the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act (PECGA), and the absence of monitoring mechanisms.
• Civic space in Zimbabwe is shrinking, characterized by tensions between the government and CSOs. This has resulted in 932 reported cases of organised violence and torture between 30 March 2020 and 5 November 2020, and the introduction of the Patriotic Bill and the Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill.

APA

Simelane, N. G. (2021). ZIMBABWE APRM POPULAR SENSITISATION (ZAPS) PROJECT Report of the Validation Workshop. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/ZAPS-Validation-Report.pdf

Chicago

Simelane, Nkanyiso Goodnews. ZIMBABWE APRM POPULAR SENSITISATION (ZAPS) PROJECT Report of the Validation Workshop. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2021. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/ZAPS-Validation-Report.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Simelane |first1=Nkanyiso Goodnews |title=ZIMBABWE APRM POPULAR SENSITISATION (ZAPS) PROJECT Report of the Validation Workshop |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=8 July 2021 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/ZAPS-Validation-Report.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{simelane2021zimbabwe, author = {Simelane, Nkanyiso Goodnews}, title = {{ZIMBABWE APRM POPULAR SENSITISATION (ZAPS) PROJECT Report of the Validation Workshop}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2021}, month = jul, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/ZAPS-Validation-Report.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }