Kariba MDC candidate and family still locked up
There is growing concern over the fate of Rufaro Nyoni, the MDC candidate for the forthcoming rural district council elections in Siakobvu under chief Mola’s area in Kariba. Along with his family he is still in police cells, six days after being arrested for celebrating his success at filing his papers at a nomination court.

Opposition speaks out on controversy over presidential election Opposition officials from the MDC factions have slammed the contradicting statements said to have been made by two senior ZANU PF officials over the dates of the presidential elections. Nathan Shamuyarira the Zanu PF spokesperson is reported as saying the presidential election could be postponed to 2010. But the website ZimOnline reported Thursday that Didymus Mutasa, the ruling party’s Secretary for Administration, said the party was not planning to postpone the 2008 poll.

Zesa transformer blows leaving Kuwadzana in dark
A newly refurbished electrical transformer at a Kuwadzana sub-station blew up Thursday afternoon, knocking out power in the area and condemning residents to yet another lengthy period without electricity. The transformer had undergone extensive repairs after it was destroyed in March when thieves stole cables and oil from the sub-station.

National student body announces demonstrations for next week
ZINASU has announced that it will be holding demonstrations against the declining education standards in the country next week. Its president Promise Mkwananzi told Newsreel they shelved planned protests last week because the police infiltrated their structures and destabilized all their logistical planning.

Migration office host heated meeting with Zimbabweans in London
The International Office for Migration on Wednesday hosted what turned out to be a heated meeting with Zimbabwean groups in London, over their voluntary returns scheme. Under the scheme returnees are eligible for a £3000 reintegration package to help them start businesses or attend college back home. Participants took exception to the scheme for giving the impression the £3000 was a one off payment when it was a package broken down into vouchers and cash payments over a year.

More farm evictions in Mutare
Despite reports that the government of Robert Mugabe had put a stop to illegal farm evictions and in the face of evidence of the huge role that the chaotic farm seizures have played in the destruction of the economy, white commercial farmers are still being dispossessed of their farms. A few days ago Dave Meikle - one of the prominent wheat and maize farmers in Old Mutare/Penhalonga area - was evicted. It’s reported that his personal losses will run to many millions of US dollars.

Massive sponsorship deal for Zifa Cup unveiled
The biggest ever sponsorship deal in Zimbabwe ’s football history was unveiled in Harare on Wednesday when the Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe announced it would sponsor ZIFA’s knock-out cup to the tune of Z$200 million. Sports analyst Natty Zvimba said the cash injection by CBZ was a welcome relief for football in the country after the Premier Soccer League lost, in the past two seasons, sponsorship for the Madison Trophy, the BP League Cup, and the OK Woza Bhora Trophy.

Kariba Mayor and five other top MDC officials released on bail
Six top MDC officials including the Mayor of the resort town of Kariba , John Houghton have been released from police custody after they were arrested Saturday for allegedly organising an illegal meeting. Lawyer Tapiwa Muchineripi said the MDC officials who included KweKwe legislator Blessing Chebundo, former Mayor of Chegutu Francis Dhlakama, national executive members Silas Matamisa and Jephat Karemba were granted bail after each paying a fine of
Z$10,000.

Chibhebhe out of hospital but expected to appear in court soon
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions secretary-general Wellington Chibhebhe is now recuperating at home after being released from hospital at the weekend. Chibhebhe was recovering from multiple injuries suffered when he and 12 other ZCTU officials were tortured while in police detention.

Pre-elections violence erupts in Buhera district
The Tsvangirai MDC has claimed that several of it’s members were injured this past weekend after they were attacked by suspected ZANU PF rivals in Buhera South in Manicaland province. Provincial spokesperson Pishai Muchauraya said the ruling party thugs went door to door and attacked at least five activists late Sunday evening.

Zanu PF thugs accused of setting MDC official’s house ablaze
The MDC has alleged that early Monday morning a group of ZANU PF thugs burnt to the ground the home of Veronica Bingwiza, the MDC women’s assembly chairperson for Buhera South. Nelson Chamisa the spokesperson of the Tsvangirai MDC said the barbaric arson and assault took place at Gava village in Buhera South.

Zanu PF considers postponing 2008 presidential poll
The ruling Zanu PF party has confirmed long held suspicions it wants to postpone the 2008 presidential poll and prolong Robert Mugabe’s tenure in power. Party spokesman Nathan Shamuyarira told the state media the move was meant to consolidate the presidential and parliamentary elections in 2010.

New law to jail farmers who remain on government acquired land
Parliament this week rammed through a law that will see the imprisonment of any farmer who remains on land that has been acquired by government. The bill makes it an offence to remain on farmland without authority from government and carries a 7 day jail term and a forced eviction.

Private schools win case over fee hikes in court
It was good news for private schools this week when a High Court Judge ordered the Education Minister not to close the schools or arrest the authorities for raising fees. Because of high inflation, schools have been forced to increase fees but with the rules crafted by the regim they are not allowed to raise them without approval of the government.

2 ZCTU officials receive treatment at SA trauma clinic
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions Vice President Lucia Matibenga and a colleague who suffered beatings while in police custody are reported to have received treatment at a Gauteng trauma unit in South Africa . COSATU Spokesperson Pat Craven confirmed that the officials received treatment in Johannesburg but had to return to Zimbabwe Friday as part of their bail conditions.

MDC candidates impeded from registering for rural council elections
The Nomination court for the country’s rural district council elections sat in major urban centres on Wednesday and based on returns so far, indications are that most opposition candidates failed to register because of blocking mechanisms put in their path by Zanu PF. The elections are now set for October 7th.

South African Deputy President says not all Zimbabweans are criminals
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka has told MP’s in South Africa that there was no evidence to suggest Zimbabweans were responsible for crime in the country. She made the remarks when responding to a question by Democratic Alliance MP Pierre Rabie who asked whether the influx of Zimbabweans into South Africa had any effect on crime and the economy.

International unions to protest arrest and torture of ZCTU leaders
Demonstrations will be organised worldwide at various Zimbabwean embassies Friday to express displeasure at the police brutality following last week’s labour protests. The ongoing Congress of South African Trade Unions annual congress will on Thursday push for a resolution to launch an international day of protest over the arrest and torture of ZCTU leaders in Zimbabwe .

Chaos in agricultural sector set to worsen food shortages
A combination of fresh farm seizures and the withdrawal of free agricultural inputs for new farmers are threatening to prolong the country’s food crisis. The Ministry of Agriculture stopped its free inputs scheme last month saying new farmers needed to take their own initiative.

Zimbabwe internet and email threatened with collapse
TelOne , Zimbabwe ’s main internet link is down, causing a great deal of congestion on the internet. Internet experts say the main satellite connection run by the state owned TelOne has not been able to pay subscriptions to Intel Sat because of the critical shortage of foreign currency in the country.

Zimbabwe ’s inflation figures ‘doctored’ says analyst
A political analyst says Mugabe’s regime has all along been lying about the state of the country’s economy. Bekithemba Mhlanga, a UK based political and social analyst, said inflation figures released by the government in the last couple of months were certainly ‘doctored’ and do not tally with what is happening on the ground.

ZCTU protests curtain raiser for more action in Zimbabwe
Pro democracy groups have maintained that they will continue with their protests for change and that recent attempts by the ZCTU to embark on mass protests were a curtain raiser for more action. The National Constitutional Assembly, The Zimbabwe National Student Union, Women of Zimbabwe Arise and the Combined Harare Residents Association are expected to embark on different and spontaneous demonstrations this week. CHRA Chairperson Mike Davies said the situation is getting so bad that it is affecting everybody irrespective of their political persuasion.

Tatenda Taibu dumps Zimbabwe for South Africa cricket
Former cricket captain Tatenda Taibu who walked away from representing his country following threats to his family, has said he will now try and qualify to play for South Africa . Taibu who played in Bangladesh and England since quitting Zimbabwe last November is reported to be heading down south to join either the Nashua Cape Cobras or the Fitendia Warriors. "I will never return to the Zimbabwe side and I want to play Test cricket. South Africa is the best option," he told The Times newspaper.

Doctor describes ZCTU injuries as severe
“It’s really terrible and really brutal” were the words used by Dr Reginald Matchaba Hove of the Zimbabwe Doctors for Human Rights to describe the severe injuries and the torture that was inflicted on arrested officials Thursday evening. 15 brutalised members of the ZCTU, including the top leadership were escorted in handcuffs from Matapi Police Station to Parirenyatwa Hospital for urgent medical treatment. Matchaba Hove said even though all 15 showed signs of injuries and had difficulties walking they arrived in handcuffs.

ACP -EU meeting exposes Africa ’s acceptance of repression in Zimbabwe
The African Caribbean and Pacific-European Union parliamentary committees met in Brussels , Belgium from Monday to Friday this week. For Zimbabwe however all that came out is the continued acceptance by African legislators of the repression taking place. Kuwadzana MP Nelson Chamisa who represented the Tsvangirai MDC at the meeting says the ACP bloc kept trying to block proposed motions that had to deal with Zimbabwe and that skin colour basically determined the support for or against.

Zimbabwean cricketer banned from English cricket for 10 years
Mark Vermeulen, the 27 year-old batsman who played eight Tests and 32 one-day internationals for Zimbabwe, was on Wednesday banned from all first-class and league cricket in England for 10 years for losing his temper and throwing a ball at spectators in frustration at his own bowling.

ZCTU & MDC leadership beaten and arrested in Harare
Those arrested Wednesday were still in police custody as we went to air. But we had managed to speak to two of them earlier in the day via mobile phone.
Speaking from custody at Harare Central police Station Grace Kwinjeh, the MDC Deputy Secretary for International Affairs, said riot police broke up the gathering before it had even started at Construction House in Harare and assaulted people.

Zimbabwe deports 5 South African student leaders
Five student leaders were deported at Harare International Airport on Wednesday amidst the countrywide crackdown by security forces. Buti Manamela, Lucien Sengli, Solo Lakedi, Mothusi Meng and Kenny Motshega from various student and youth movements arrived on a 12:20 flight. Over ten CIO’s promptly whisked the delegation away, telling them they were prohibited immigrants.

Government accused of moving ‘goal posts’ on elections
The ruling Zanu (PF) regime has been accused of trying to ‘steal’ the forthcoming Rural District Council elections by issuing conflicting statements over the sitting date for the nomination court. Government announced early this week that the nomination court for all the 57 rural district councils would sit Friday. But in Binga in Matebeleland North and possibly other areas, the MDC has received information that the date has been moved from this Friday to the 22 nd September, which will also be a Friday.

ZCTU protests to go ahead despite threats and arrests
Peaceful demonstrations organised by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions for Wednesday will go ahead despite a massive propaganda campaign by the government and threats designed to derail the highly anticipated event. Lovemore Matombo, President of the umbrella workers organisation, said on Tuesday that threats against the ZCTU were typical of the government’s response whenever workers disagree with official policies.

Top ZCTU officials picked up by the police in Rusape
Two senior ZCTU officials based in Rusape have been picked up by the police as authorities begin their crackdown on leaders of the planned anti-government protests. The two officials, both National Railways of Zimbabwe employees, were picked up on Monday and Tuesday respectively from Vengere suburb in the town.

70 WOZA activists arrested as protests at Town House intensify
The campaign to remove Sekesai Makwavarara and the illegal commission running the affairs of the capital has intensified with residents and pressure groups descending on Town House. A total of about 70 members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), some with babies, are in custody in Harare after they attempted to carry out a sit-in demanding the removal of the illegal commission.

Prominent civic leader Majongwe denied UK visa
Raymond Majongwe confirmed that he has been denied a visa to travel to the United Kingdom, saying this was done “on what was called the balance of probabilities, that I might eventually abscond and disappear.”
He had been invited to address an Open Forum discussion on the Zimbabwe crisis by the UK based Britain Zimbabwe Society, but had his application turned down on Friday.

ZINASU leadership arrested
Armed riot police descended on a workshop organized by the Zimbabwe National Students Union and arrested 8 student leaders, in Harare today. The student leaders were having a strategic workshop ahead of the ZCTU and the ZINASU mass protests scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday respectively.

Amnesty says Zimbabwe housing policy built on foundation of failures and lies
Amnesty International released a report on Friday that revealed that almost none of the victims of Operation Murambatsvina, the government so-called clean up exercise, have benefited from the programme. Amnesty said contrary to government statements almost none of the victims of Murambatsvina have benefited from the rebuilding.

Protest alliance builds as civic groups pledge to join ZCTU action
Various civic groups in Zimbabwe have pledged to take part in planned protests by the ZCTU next week. The national students body, National Constitutional Assembly and the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition are all reported to have weighed in with their support.

Chibhebhe trial threatens to expose illegality of Mugabe’s laws
What started out as an attempt by the police to cover up their assault of ZCTU Secretary General Wellington Chibhebhe, is now turning into a test case on the legality of both the Criminal Codification and Reform Act and the new Presidential Powers regulations on currency.

Traditional healers have now been given the authority to provide sick notes to patients in Zimbabwe in an open admission by government that the formal health sector has completely collapsed. With drugs either not available or too expensive for a population struggling with high poverty levels, traditional healers have grown in prominence.

MP Mubhawu files Z$20 million defamation suit over Trudy assault
The MP for Mabvuku-Tafara, Timothy Mubhawu, who was accused of sponsoring party youths to assault fellow MDC MP Trudy Stevenson, has filed the lawsuit just days after the charges against him were dropped. The legislator says he has given the Herald, the Commissioner of police Augustine Chihuri and Wayne Bvudzijena their spokesman 5 days to respond to the lawsuit in the High Court.

ZCTU nationwide labour protests to begin September 13th
A meeting of the general council of The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions on Saturday resolved to organise peaceful protests beginning September 13th. The issue at the centre of the protests is the increasing inflation that has left 90% of workers in Zimbabwe earning salaries below the Poverty Datum Line.

Justice Minister Chinamasa acquitted in bribery case
A Rusape magistrate on Monday dropped charges against Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa who was accused of attempting to defeat the course of justice by trying to influence witnesses. Chinamasa was accused of trying to persuade James Kaunye, a victim of intra party violence, to withdraw charges of assault against State Security Minister Didymus Mutasa.

MDC draws line between planned ZCTU protests and their own
Although the opposition in Zimbabwe enjoys support from the labour unions the MDC have drawn a line between their own programme of action and planned worker protests by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions in September. Speaking to Newsreel two days after party leader Morgan Tsvangirai led a march to parliament.

Zimbabwe opposition leader takes to the streets
MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai and his national executive caught the police off guard on Friday and marched from their party headquarters at Harvest House to hand over a petition demanding a better deal for Zimbabweans, at parliament in Harare. More than 500 people joined the 50 members of the national executive who were holding placards and chanting slogans.

Pro democracy movement forms Save Zimbabwe Campaign
Progressive forces in Zimbabwe agreed at a meeting on Thursday to form a broad alliance called The Save Zimbabwe Campaign in the hope of engaging and dealing with the national crisis together. The Bulawayo-based church group the Christian Alliance organised the meeting, which saw the major stakeholders in the pro-democracy group, including the two MDC factions, ratifying the agreement.

SA opposition demand debate in parliament over Zimbabwe crisis
The Democratic Alliance party says it will make a formal request to that country’s parliament to try and debate alternative measures to end the Zimbabwean crisis. DA Chairperson Joe Seremani issued a statement slamming Thabo Mbeki’s ‘quite diplomacy’ as a ‘spectacular failure,’ and said it was no longer acceptable.