Zimbabwe - October 2025

On 27 October, the offices of the Southern African Political Economy Series (SAPES) Trust, a regional think tank in Harare, were attacked by unidentified assailants. The attack appeared to be an attempt to disrupt a planned press conference criticising the ruling Zanu-PF party’s plans to extend President Mnangagwa’s term beyond the constitutionally mandated limit. It saw the SAPES Trust’s premises firebombed and a security guard abducted and came shortly after Zanu-PF’s party conference re-affirmed its controversial commitment to keep Mnangagwa in power until 2030 (known as the 2030 Agenda). It also coincided with attacks on other critics of the 2030 Agenda, including a member of the Constitutional Defence Committee, a civic group, whose house was set alight on 28 October. On the same day, an event in which several speakers was due to address the issue was blocked by security forces. The premises of the SAPES Trust were attacked in a similar incident during the 2023 elections.     

Sources: News Day, Mail & Guardian, EUSEE, The Africa Report