As Zimbabwe moves toward the 2023 general elections, dark clouds loom over its democratic prospects. The country is witnessing a dangerous collapse of democratic space — a trend marked by repression, intimidation, and the silencing of dissent. At a time when Zimbabwe should be opening its doors to dialogue, participation, and electoral fairness, it is instead clamping down on fundamental rights, sparking fears of yet another manipulated election cycle.
The most glaring concern is the rising attack on freedom of expression. Journalists, human rights activists, and opposition supporters are being targeted with impunity. Arrests, harassment, and threats have become common weapons in the state’s arsenal. From press blackouts to physical assaults, the message from the regime is clear: speak out, and you will pay the price.
This is not accidental — it’s a calculated political strategy. Repressive laws like the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) are being dusted off and enforced with vigour. These laws are no longer about national security or data protection — they are now political tools used to ban opposition rallies, muzzle activists, and cripple the work of civil society.
Beyond the legal battlefield lies the judiciary, once a sacred pillar of justice. But in today’s Zimbabwe, the courts have become battlegrounds where opposition leaders are humiliated and democracy itself put on trial. Judicial independence is under siege, with politically motivated rulings fast becoming the norm. When the bench is compromised, where can the citizen turn for fairness?
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), which should guarantee credible elections, has been tainted by allegations of bias and manipulation. Its failure to maintain transparency — from the voters’ roll to the delimitation of constituencies — has deepened public suspicion. Complaints of ghost voters, voter roll tampering, and partisan conduct have yet to be addressed, leaving many Zimbabweans doubting whether their vote will even count.
This erosion of democracy is not just about laws or institutions. It’s about people. It’s about the vendor in Mbare who cannot attend a rally for fear of losing her stall. It’s about the student in Bulawayo who can’t tweet his political opinion without risking arrest. It’s about every Zimbabwean being stripped of the right to choose their leaders freely and fairly.
What’s at stake here is bigger than just one election. The 2023 polls are a litmus test for the future of democracy in Zimbabwe. If the trend continues — if the suppression worsens, if institutions remain captured, and if citizens are shut out — then Zimbabwe risks sliding deeper into authoritarianism.
The international community must not look away. Now is the time for SADC, the African Union, and global democracies to apply meaningful pressure on the Mnangagwa regime. This includes demanding access for election observers, calling out human rights abuses, and supporting grassroots civil society movements. Silence at this hour is complicity.
But ultimately, the true power lies with the people. Zimbabweans have endured decades of hardship, betrayal, and broken promises. Yet they remain defiant. That same defiance must now be channelled into reclaiming democratic space. It’s time for citizens to speak, organize, and vote — even in the face of repression.
The 2023 elections will either mark a turning point or a tragic repetition. Zimbabwe must choose between deepening dictatorship or rebuilding democracy. The future hangs in the balance, and the world is watching.