Zimbabwe Ranked Among Most Repressive Countries

By Lloyd Takawira

United States based global think tank , “Heritage Foundation” in it’s 2021 Index of Economic Freedom has once again exposed President Mnangagwa’s administration for repression after ranking it 174th in the world.

According to the Heritage Foundation Index of Economic Freedom 2021, Zimbabwe’s economic freedom score is now 39.5 – the 174th freest (most repressed) politically and economically in the world.

“Zimbabwe’s economic freedom score is 39.5, making its economy the 174th freest in the 2021 Index. Its overall score has decreased by 3.6 points, primarily because of a decline in monetary freedom. Zimbabwe is ranked 46th among 47 countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa region, and its overall score is well below the regional and world averages”.

The report said , while they were high hopes since Mugabe was ousted from power, it has since fizzled out.

“Zimbabwe’s economy sank nearly to the bottom of the Index rankings this year with scores on eight of the 12 Index indicators in the repressed category. Optimism after the fall of Robert Mugabe in 2017 has given way to no pessimism as the new government has failed to follow through on promises to improve the business environment. Corruption remains rife, and there is little protection of property rights”.

The Foundation said that, Zimbabwe fails to observe the rule of law with property rights and judicial effectiveness abbsy.

“The government enforces property rights in cities but usually not in the case of agricultural land. The land management system is fragmented and inefficient. The judiciary is generally impartial in nonpolitical cases, but government interference in politicized cases hinders the delivery of impartial justice. Endemic corruption throughout government remains a serious challenge, and enforcement of anticorruption statutes often targets political opponents”.

The foundation also deplored rampant corruption which it said has militated against business feedom, labor freedom and investment freedom in Zimbabwe.

“The pervasive presence of regulatory barriers severely hampers trade and investment flows. Undue state interference continues to undermine investor confidence. The financial system has suffered from repeated crises, and years of hyperinflation have undercut entrepreneurial activity,” reads the report.

The Heritage Foundation, is a United States based global think tank based in Washington. The Index covers 12 freedoms – from property rights to financial freedom – in 184 countries.

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