There are two peoples who identify themselves as indigenous in Zimbabwe, Tshawa and Doma. However, the Government of Zimbabwe does not recognize any specific group as indigenous to the country.

Zimbabwe is part of CERD, CRC, CEDAW, ICCPR and ICESCR. The reporting of these conventions is long overdue, but the government has made efforts in 2017 to comply with some of the requirements that have been established. Zimbabwe also voted in favour of adopting UNDRIP but has not ratified ILO Convention 169. In recent years, Zimbabwe also participated in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process of the UN Human Rights Council, whose most recent meeting was held in November 2016.

Indigenous Peoples in Zimbabwe

Two peoples self-identify as indigenous in Zimbabwe. These are the Tshwa (Tjwa, Tsoa, Cuaa) San, found in western Zimbabwe, and the Doma (Vadema, Tebomvura) of the Mbire district in north-central Zimbabwe. It is estimated a population of 2,950 Tshwa and 1,450 Doma in Zimbabwe, approximately 0.032% of the country’s population of 14,546,314 in 2020.

Many of the Tshwa and Doma live below the poverty line in Zimbabwe and together they comprise some of the poorest people in the country. Socio-economic data is limited for both groups, though a survey was done of Tshwa in 2020. Both the Tshwa and Doma have histories of hunting and gathering and their households now have diversified economies, including informal agricultural work for other groups, pastoralism, tourism and small-scale business enterprises.

Remittances from relatives and friends both inside and outside the country make up a small proportion of the total incomes of Tshwa and Doma. As is the case with other Zimbabweans, some Tshwa and Doma have emigrated to other countries in search of income-generating opportunities, employment and greater social security.

The only San organization in Zimbabwe, the Tsoro-o-tso San Development Fund (TSDT) was active in 2017, especially in the dissemination of information among the Tshwa communities and the promotion of the Tjwao language.

Main challenges for the Indigenous Peoples of Zimbabwe

Doma and Tshwa San face continuous discrimination, social insecurity, low employment levels, limited political participation and lack of broad access to social services, land, development capital and natural resources.

Relations between the Tshwa and their Bantu-speaking neighbours, the Kalanga and the Ndebele and government officials are complex. For example, in 2017, Tshwa was blamed for his involvement in illegal activities related to wildlife, even though there was no evidence to support this.

Tensions between Tshwa in Tsholotsho district and staff members of the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Department (ZDNPWLM) (Zimparks) increased in 2017.

The rights to Doming the resources were restricted by the imposition of new conservation areas and safari hunting areas in the Zambezi Valley. Their livelihoods were also affected by the fact that they now have to pay license fees as high as Z $ 800 ($ 800 USD) for the right to hunt or fish.