SIGNED, BUT NOT FUNDED
ZimRights Warns 2026 Budget Betrays the People’s Human Rights Manifesto
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) today released a critical policy brief titled “The 2026 Budget and the People’s Human Rights Manifesto,” revealing a stark disconnection between the government’s human rights promises and its fiscal planning.
The analysis, launched following the presentation of the 2026 National Budget by Minister of Finance Mthuli Ncube, argues that while the government—including the Presidium—signed the People’s Human Rights Manifesto in April 2023, the 2026 budget fails to fund the “10 Key Asks” outlined in that social contract.
“The government has signed the social contract with one hand but withheld the funds to fulfill it with the other,” said Dzikamai Bere, National Director of ZimRights. “Our analysis shows a budget that chooses taxation over protection and ‘guns over bandages.’ By prioritizing security enforcement over healthcare and independent oversight, this budget fails the ‘Money Where Your Mouth Is’ test.”
Key Findings: A Compliance Gap
The Policy Brief identifies four critical areas where the budget violates the Manifesto:
- The “Double Dip” Taxation Trap (Violation of Livelihoods): Zimbabwe remains a regional outlier by taxing citizens twice on the same income—first when receiving money (IMTT) and again when withdrawing it (Cash Levy). While neighbors like Malawi and South Africa have scrapped similar taxes to protect the poor, Zimbabwe’s 2026 budget maintains this punitive regime.
- The Democracy Deficit (Violation of Accountability): The budget creates a “Paper Tiger” dilemma for oversight bodies. The Zimbabwe Independent Complaints Commission (ZICC), constitutionally mandated to investigate police and military misconduct, received only ZiG 108.1 million—less than 1% of the ZiG 17.2 billion allocated to the Police. This financial paralysis renders the Commission ineffective against impunity.
- Guns Over Bandages: In a clear misplacement of priorities, the state has allocated nearly 50% more funding to Peace and Security (ZiG 46.8 billion) than to Health (ZiG 30.4 billion), failing to meet the Abuja Declaration target of 15% and guaranteeing continued shortages of essential medicines.
- The VAT Blow: The proposed increase of VAT to 5% is described as a “blind tax” that will disproportionately erode the purchasing power of the poor and vulnerable, further threatening informal livelihoods.
Call to Parliament
ZimRights calls on Parliament to reject the anti-poor provisions of the budget and demands the following adjustments:
- Harmonize Transaction Taxes: Zero-rate the IMTT for survival income to match the cash withdrawal exemptions.
- Ring-Fence 1% for Democracy: Mandate that at least 1% of the Total National Budget be allocated to Independent Commissions to ensure they are not “captured by penury.”
- Reverse the VAT Hike: Scrap the increase to 15.5% and raise revenue by closing loopholes in the mining sector instead.
About the People’s Human Rights Manifesto
The Manifesto is a dialogue tool drafted by ZimRights in consultation with grassroots communities, outlining 10 Key Asks for the government to improve the human rights situation in Zimbabwe. It was signed by leaders across the political divide.
About ZimRights
ZimRights is Zimbabwe’s first post-independence indigenous human rights advocacy group with over 250 000 members across Zimbabwe and the diaspora.
Download the full policy brief here
Issued by:
ZimRights Information Department
Email: info@zimrights.org.zw
