Stories about Zimbabwe
Access the Unfreedom Monitor database
The Unfreedom Monitor is an Advox initiative to deepen our understanding of the relationship between technology and authoritarian power. In the first phase of this project, researchers working in 11 countries and four key themes conducted analysis of incidents, narratives, and media items, to explain acts of digital authoritarianism and...
How Artificial Intelligence could influence Zimbabwe’s 2023 elections
When technologies are adopted in the absence of a solid legal framework and strict safeguards, they pose significant threats to privacy and personal security.
Weaponising the law: Zimbabwe’s new frontier in digital rights repression
2022 will provide ample opportunity to monitor the government response to electoral challenges, and whether includes the use of internet shutdowns and laws to clampdown on activists, opposition leaders and independent media.
Freedom of expression in a downward spiral in Southern Africa, says new study
Outdated laws, exorbitant fees, and stifling of dissent have ramped up violations to the right of free expression in Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
A Zimbabwean journalist, two opposition politicians jailed for tweets about police brutality
Hopewell Chin’ono, Job Sikhala and Fadzai Mahere were arrested for tweeting about a police officer who allegedly beat a baby to death while enforcing COVID-19 regulations.
Lockdown to shutdown: How COVID-19 stifled digital rights in Zimbabwe
COVID-19 and its subsequent government policies have had far-reaching implications on digital rights and media freedom in Zimbabwe.
Seven African governments employ surveillance spyware, says new study
Equatorial Guinea, Botswana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have employed surveillance technology from Circles, a firm affiliated with Israel's NSO Group, according to the report by Citizen Lab.
Zimbabwe governance crisis: Arrests over COVID-19 corruption and planned protests
The arrest of two prominent figures in Zimbabwe signal new levels of crisis in governance as the nation heads toward unprecedented economic decline and social unrest amid COVID-19 corruption.
Outrage as Zimbabwe’s military declares social media a ‘dangerous threat’
The military's declaration that social media is a "dangerous threat" has angered Zimbabweans concerned over the increasing deterioration of freedom of expression in the country.
How Zimbabwe's biometric ID scheme (and China’s AI aspirations) threw a wrench into the 2018 election
Some citizens were told that if they didn't register and submit their biometrics, they might be barred from voting.
Zimbabwe government continues to weaponize information online to control citizen engagement
As a former state security minister, president Mnangagwa appreciated the importance and value of disinformation in Zimbabwe’s political terrain.
What do Zimbabwe’s internet disruptions say about the state of digital rights in the country?
Government officials have repeatedly described access to social media as a potential threat, hinting that more disruptions would not be ruled out in the future.
Amid civil unrest, internet shutdowns are making Zimbabwe's economic crisis worse
"It's not the fuel price increases, it's not the looming hunger. The most scary thing is that these guys in government are convinced that they are doing a good job."
Netizen Report: Zimbabwe’s internet goes dark amid protests, nationwide strike
The update from Zimbabwe, plus: China fines VPN users, Cuba is censoring SMS messages and Iranian officials plan to block Instagram.
Taxed, throttled or thrown in jail: Africa’s new internet paradigm
Across the continent, the legal and economic costs of speaking up are rising.
Netizen Report: What do Zimbabwe, Kashmir, and Turkey Have in Common? Internet Censorship.
In this edition, we report on #ShutdownZim protests that sparked Zimbabwe to block WhatsApp, the full-on Internet shutdown in Kashmir and ongoing social media censorship in Brazil, Ethiopia and Turkey.
#ShutDownZim: Will Social Media Protests Drive Zimbabwe to Build a ‘Great Firewall'?
This is the first time Zimbabwe has staged a "shutdown" over government dysfunction by organizing on social media. But protests could trigger new forms of censorship.
Zimbabwe: My Blog is Blocked!
On Friday March 20, 2009 the Zimbabwean blog, Peace, love & happiness unto the whole world, was blocked. The author of the blog, Eusebia, wrote a short post about it saying, "I have not idea why my blog is being blocked...I refuse to be censored or cowered into silence by anyone because I know my human right of freedom of expression..."
Zimbabwe: The Interception of Communications Bill
Last week, Zimbabwean parliament passed “The Interception of Communications Bill” that will allow the government to monitor telephones, emails and the Internet. Zimbabwean ISPs are condemning this law, which is waiting the approval of the Senate, because it will require them to purchase expensive monitoring equipments they cannot afford. Transport...
