THE STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT |ZIMBABWE I 2017 of living. This is referred to as the “tyranny of GDP” because wealth could just be concentrated in the hands of a few people. As of 2017, Zimbabwe had a GDP per capita of US$$980,70 which is way below the average for a developed country, which should be around US$10,000. regime has pursued destructive economic policies which resulted in over four million Zimbabweans fleeing the country, high levels of unemployment and isolation of Zimbabwe from the international community. Investment in social amenities became a luxury as the government struggled to maintain the bare minimum. The economic situation became increasingly unbearable with no access to the bare minimum like access to cash. The government failed to provide health care, access to clean water, electricity, refuse collection, social infrastructure like roads. Increasingly, Zimbabwean learnt to do without government. This saw a bulge in the informal sector, use of alternative source of energy like solar energy, and use of boreholes for those who could afford. This creativity did not translate to improvement in the quality of life but rather simply survival. The government became preoccupied with its own political struggles, while government official depended on healthy care in foreign lands and send their children overseas for education. This non-attention to the well-being of the people must be a cause for indictment as an abrogation of the constitutional obligation to pursue the promotion of a society in which people enjoy prosperous, happy and fulfilling lives. According to the WHO data published in 2015 life expectancy in Zimbabwe is: Male 59.0, female 62.3 and total life expectancy is 60.7 which gives Zimbabwe a World Life Expectancy ranking of 160. Social Support is measured by having someone to count on in times of trouble. Zimbabweans are found wanting in this regard due to high unemployment, and they have turned to religion to wipe their tears, find fellowship, comfort and hope for the future. This has resulted in the proliferation of faith movements that promise ‘miracle money’ and instant breakthroughs. Social freedom is another indicator, and this is based on perceived freedom to make life decisions. Generosity on the Gallup poll is measured by whether one has made any donations recently. Corruption is another determinant; whether there is corruption in business and or government has a bearing on citizens’ happiness. Zimbabwe is on position 157 out of 180 on the corruption index by corruption watchdog Transparency International. 71 BILLION 16 The World Happiness Ranking report also notes that in authoritarian states such as Chad and Zimbabwe, and in South Africa’s new democracy, though living conditions are poor, people will still be happy because of optimism for the future.This is true of the Zimbabwe Diaspora, which had remained engaged in the processes and home and remains eager to participate in economic and democratic processes. 14 12 10 8 6 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2016 Zimbabwean GDP Trend Government Performance It is no wonder that Zimbabwe finds itself in the bottom 10 on the happiness ranking. This reflects badly on the government’s performance in relation to the enhancement and promotion of a sustainable, just, free and democratic society in which people enjoy prosperous, happy and fulfilling life. The Mugabe Transitional Justice Zimbabwe has a history of gross violation of human rights, which has characterized the governance system for the past century. Section 251 to 253 of the Constitution makes a clear acknowledgement of https//tradingeconomics.com/zimbabwe/gdp-percapita Transparency International: https://www.transparency.org/country/ZWE Life expectancy: https://www.indexmundi.com/zimbabwe/life_expectancy_at_birth.html 70 71 57