FOREWORD 2018: THE GREAT DREAM-TURNED NIGHTMARE FOR ZIMBABWE By Jestina Mukoko, Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum The year 2018 opened with great hope following the advent of the new dispensation through what was a military coup, though many, hoping for better governance, were reluctant to call it a ‘military coup’. This showed the desperation of the people of Zimbabwe to see and live in a different reality. After 37 years of a one-man rule, Zimbabweans saw the new government as an avenue to a rebirth and new beginnings. This dream turned into a horrific nightmare on 1 August 2018, when the military used live ammunition on unarmed civilians killing at least six innocent civilians in broad daylight. This painted a dark picture for the country which throughout the year continued to slide into a socio-political and economic quagmire. The face of the military in domestic politics became more pronounced than before with violations by the military rising to new levels. In the same breath, as documented in this report, economic plunder continued at alarming levels, sinking the country deeper into debt in the absence of adherence to the constitutional principles of fiscal responsibility. But in all the chaos, the Forum through its membership, responded swiftly in most of the documented cases, calling for the respect and protection of human rights by the delinquent government. The Forum condemned the 1 August killings and made sure all the evidence of the killings was documented and presented before the relevant bodies including the Motlanthe Commission and the courts of law. The Forum provided much need support to push back against the excesses of the state through an antiimpunity campaign which saw over 70 cases from 1 August killings being brought before the courts. As the tragedy unfolded at home, several international election observer missions witnessed the gruesome violence which they strongly condemned. Months later, the Forum looks at these developments and proposes key recommendations to redress the situation before it worsens. First, we call for serious, authentic and inclusive national dialogue that is not confined to political actors. We further recommend specific law reforms we to remove obstacles to human rights progress in Zimbabwe. If the issues raised and our recommendations are addressed, Zimbabwe will improve and, in a short time be a different country. This is easily possible because approximately 72% of the violations documented in this report do not require money to prevent or resolve. They only require the state to turn off its architecture of violence and torture. Surely, this is not asking for much. From there, we strengthen institutions designed to offer support to victims as we embark on a healing process. viii STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT ZIMBABWE 2018