‘SADC should speak out’: Zimbabwe activists face crackdown ahead of summit

On August 7, four masked men attempted to break into the offices of Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) in Harare, a group fighting for democratic freedoms.

Staff believe the attackers were linked to the government, as the incident followed accusations against CiZC's leader by a state-owned newspaper.

This comes amid a broader crackdown on activists and opposition members ahead of a major regional summit in Zimbabwe, where President Emmerson Mnangagwa will take over as chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Concerns are growing that the situation may worsen after the summit.