Executive Summary The assessment focused on documenting the nature and extent of the state sanctioned and unsanctioned raids on GALZ. The assessment brings out the opaqueness of the raids, which demonstrates the precarious environment that GALZ operates in. GALZ has been attacked by different kinds of adversaries including but not limited to uniformed police officers, officers in plain clothes, state security agents, youth militia and unidentified groups. GALZ members have been subjected to verbal and physical assaults, confiscation of personal belongings, detentions and arrests. This has had negative ramifications on GALZ and its members and affected the fulfilment of organisational objectives. Fear has been instilled and inculcated amongst its members to the extent that even when they were entitled to receive legal protection, they have preferred to abstain from reporting abuse or injustices perpetrated against them. GALZ’s programming has been hindered as mobilisation, implementation and evaluation of programs hang on the balance, because beneficiaries fear the volatile environment and fail to access basic services that they are entitled to receive. The raids in particular, have alienated GALZ staff members from the communities that they seek to serve. The nature of the organisation’s operations have led to a lot of speculation among some members, who then blame GALZ staff for the raids. However, despite the volatile operational environment, the organisation has continued to thrive and has been innovative about serving its members. Despite the 4 An Assessment of the impact of state sanctioned and unsanctioned raids on GALZ premises and gatherings