With around 16 million inhabitants, Zimbabwe is a country in Southern Africa that has faced significant economic and political challenges. Once a prosperous nation, Zimbabwe's economy collapsed in the 2000s. Although there have been signs of recovery in recent years, poverty and unemployment remain widespread. Politically, the country has struggled with authoritarian rule and Zimbabwe remains a nation grappling with instability and uncertainty.
Karen Mukwasi documents cases of violence against women in Zimbabwe. She founded the PADA platform in 2018, which aims to encourage girls and young women to think innovatively and to actively participate in public discourse. In 2020, Karen Mukwasi came under the scrutiny of the state security services when she started to document reports from raped and violented women and didn't want to give the names of the victims. Since then, she has been repeatedly harassed, threatened and monitored.
Dr. Julia Grauvogel is Senior Research Fellow at the GIGA Institute for African Affairs, where she is spokesperson of the Working Group "Interventions and Security". Her research examines international sanctions, persistence and change of authoritarian rule and the legitimation of non-democratic regimes, particularly in Zimbabwe and Burundi.
Together with Karen Mukwasi and Julia Grauvogel, we will discuss the latest developments and current political situation in Zimbabwe, focusing on consequences for the population. We will examine the country's prospects more closely and discuss the potential role of Europe and Germany in its future. Charlotte Horn, a journalist, will host the event.
The conversation will be held in English without translation.
