Zimbabwe's status as a reformist state is facing its steepest challenge yet. Despite the landmark abolition of the death penalty as recently as December 2024, the Human Rights Watch World Report 2026 paints a grim picture of a country where the law is increasingly used as a weapon against its own citizens. For a look at the report and some of its findings, Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Senior Africa Researcher at Human Rights Watch, Idriss Ali Nassah

Zimbabwe's status as a reformist state is facing its steepest challenge yet. Despite the landmark abolition of the death penalty as recently as December 2024, the Human Rights Watch World Report 2026 paints a grim picture of a country where the law is increasingly used as a weapon against its own citizens. For a look at the report and some of its findings, Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Senior Africa Researcher at Human Rights Watch, Idriss Ali Nassah

An English news and current affairs wrap with a fresh take on the day’s top stories, hosted by the seasoned journalist Tsepiso Makwetla.

An English news and current affairs wrap with a fresh take on the day&rsquo;s top stories, hosted by the seasoned journalist Tsepiso Makwetla.

Africa Hour

Africa World Hour 

Zimbabwean authorities increasingly using the law is increasingly used as weapon against own citizens

From the hopeful sparks of the Arab Spring in 2011 to the chaotic downfall of Muammar Gaddafi, Libya has transitioned from an iron-fisted autocracy to a landscape fractured by militia rule and external interference. This week, that volatile history reached a violent new inflection point with the assassination of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi. Once seen as his father's reformist heir and later a leading candidate in the nation's long-delayed elections, Saif al-Islam was shot dead in his Zintan home this week, Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Anti-Terrorism Specialist and Global Security Analyst, Dickson Osajie

From the hopeful sparks of the Arab Spring in 2011 to the chaotic downfall of Muammar Gaddafi, Libya has transitioned from an iron-fisted autocracy to a landscape fractured by militia rule and external interference. This week, that volatile history reached a violent new inflection point with the assassination of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi. Once seen as his father's reformist heir and later a leading candidate in the nation's long-delayed elections, Saif al-Islam was shot dead in his Zintan home this week, Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Anti-Terrorism Specialist and Global Security Analyst, Dickson Osajie

A look at what the death of Saif al-Islam means for Libya, a nation already fractured by militia rule and external interference

International aid organisation, Doctors without Borders says its hospital in South Sudan's Jonglei state was hit by an airstrike on Tuesday night, destroying the hospital's main warehouse and most of its critical medical supplies. Following the attack, the organisation released a statement accusing South Sudanese government forces of being the only armed party in the country with the capacity to perform aerial attacks. For more on what is happening on the ground, Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Independent Journalist, Patrick Oyet, who joins us from South Sudan's Central Equatoria State

International aid organisation, Doctors without Borders says its hospital in South Sudan's Jonglei state was hit by an airstrike on Tuesday night, destroying the hospital's main warehouse and most of its critical medical supplies. Following the attack, the organisation released a statement accusing South Sudanese government forces of being the only armed party in the country with the capacity to perform aerial attacks. For more on what is happening on the ground, Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Independent Journalist, Patrick Oyet, who joins us from South Sudan's Central Equatoria State

 Doctors without Borders points finger at South Sudanese government for airstrike on hospital 

Southern African countries committed serious human rights violations throughout 2025, creating vicious cycles of abuse and impunity, this is according to Human Rights Watch's World Report 2026. The report says security forces in Angola, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe used excessive and at times lethal force, and arbitrarily arrested and detained protesters.  Ashwanee Budoo-Scholtz  deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch says Southern African governments are, in many cases, failing to meet their international legal obligations to bring those responsible for human rights violations to justice, creating an environment for abusers to thrive.  

Southern African countries committed serious human rights violations throughout 2025, creating vicious cycles of abuse and impunity, this is according to Human Rights Watch's World Report 2026. The report says security forces in Angola, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe used excessive and at times lethal force, and arbitrarily arrested and detained protesters. &nbsp;Ashwanee Budoo-Scholtz &nbsp;deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch says Southern African governments are, in many cases, failing to meet their international legal obligations to bring those responsible for human rights violations to justice, creating an environment for abusers to thrive.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Zimbabwean authorities increasingly using the law is increasingly used as weapon against own citizens

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