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2 MDC activists and 4 police officers tortured in arms cache fiasco
Lawyers representing the eight men accused of plotting to kill Mugabe have said six of their clients were tortured and assaulted by state agents, to force them to admit to a crime they totally deny. The suspects who appeared in court on Saturday were remanded to appear in court again Wednesday. |
Suspicion over party funds given to pro-senate MDC by government
In February, it was reported that Z$8 billion was given by the government to the group now led by Professor Arthur Mutambara, as the share allotted to opposition parties that have representation in parliament. Officials from the party have since confirmed this was true, but MDC shadow minister for economics Tendai Biti told us Monday that he believes the group received much more than that for their congress, using the Political Finances Act as a cover for support. |
Mugabe’s favoured minister could face 50 years jail for stock-theft
Sithembiso Nyoni is considered by many to be one of Mugabe’s favourite cabinet ministers. Mugabe went to extraordinary lengths to secure her ministerial status after her loss in parliamentary elections made her ineligible for cabinet under the country’s constitution. |
All set for second MDC national congress this weekend
Over 15 000 party delegates are expected to attend the long awaited second MDC national congress that kicks-off in Harare Friday. Party leader Morgan Tsvangirai is certain to retain his post unopposed. Others who will be elected unopposed are party heavyweights, Isaac Matongo, Roy Bennett and Sekai Holland after they emerged unopposed at the end of the nomination process on Sunday. |
Minister threatens to eliminate opponents
Minister of State Security Didymus Mutasa on Wednesday warned on state television that the govt would “eliminate” people in the opposition who upset the security of the country. This announcement came a day after state reports that police had uncovered an arms cache at the home of an alleged former Rhodesian army officer Peter Hitschmann. |
NCA youths hold peaceful demonstrations in Harare
There is growing restlessness in Zimbabwe, which has resulted in people taking to the streets. A group of NCA members held a peaceful demonstration in Harare Wednesday against “illegitimate laws and an illegitimate constitution.” S tudents in tertiary education have in recent weeks embarked on demonstrations over the latest ten-fold increase in tuition fees. NCA activist Dzvairo said plans are underway to organise demonstrations that will encompass all stakeholders. |
Grabbing of mines set to further harm the economy
An announcement by mining minister Amos Midzi that the cabinet had approved draft proposals to seize 51 percent controlling stakes in all foreign owned mines, has set the country’s economy up for further damage. Foreign investors are already casting a worried eye on their investments. |
Government spending billions to house 3 governors in hotels
The government is housing 3 provincial governors in luxurious hotels in Bulawayo. Although each of these governors had their own homes at the time they were appointed by Mugabe, the properties were not deemed lavish enough for provincial government officials and accommodation was found for them in top hotels in Bulawayo. |
The Herald newspaper versus Archbishop Pius Ncube
The state controlled Herald launched a blistering attack on Bulawayo Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncube last week and called for his excommunication from the Church. The cleric has for years been on the receiving end of threats, both verbal and physical, because of his outspoken condemnation of the ZANU PF regime.
A lengthy opinion piece by Tichaendepi Chuma called Ncube; “a demented clergyman who has not only become dangerous to himself but to the institution of the Church as well.”
The Archbishop responds to these comments.. |
30 students arrested in Bulawayo
At least 30 students were arrested in Bulawayo on Tuesday during demonstrations over fee hikes. The protesters were from the National University of Science and Technology, Hillside Teachers College and Bulawayo Polytechnic. |
Sole tyre manufacturer closes down again as forex shortage bites
Dunlop Tyres has been forced to shut operations owing to a crippling foreign currency shortage. It’s the second time in 6 months that the company has been forced to make such a decision. Over 820 workers will lose their jobs with over 30 000 more in downstream industries also set to be affected. |
MDC Mayor accuses Zanu (PF) of vote buying in Chegutu elections
Francis Dhlakama, the outgoing Mayor of Chegutu, said he feels his defeat to Zanu (PF) candidate Martin Zimani was not fair and square considering that there was a lot of vote buying by the ruling party. Dhlakama alleges that for days leading to the poll, Zanu (PF) was distributing maize for free in Chegutu. |
Justice for Agriculture say no stolen farm equipment returned
A report in The Standardnewspaper said that war veterans and Masvingo Assistant Police Commissioner Loveness Ndanga have finally begun to comply with orders from the High Court and orders from Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri to return farm equipment seized illegally from farmers in the lowveld area. |
A tribute to WOZA for International Women's Day
On Wednesday women's groups around the world celebrate International Women's Day. This is the date set aside as a national holiday by many countries and the UN to remember the important role of women in history and the struggles that they have had to face in pursuit of equality, peace and justice. |
Security situation ‘tense’ as anger increases over food shortages
In a precautionary measure to counter any uprising over the serious food shortages, the government has reportedly put security forces on high alert. |
Kombayi wins Z$112 billion defamation suit against Mnangagwa
Its not often a government Minister is ordered to pay Z$ 112 billion in a defamation suit in Zimbabwe but when that happens to someone like Emerson Mnangagwa, you know the political stakes are high. |
Asylum hearing to determine policy on Zimbabwe begins in UK
Three high court judges began listening to arguments on Monday in the UK asylum case.. |
No transport in the Capital after cancellation of fuel programme
We have received reports that there was no transportation in the capital on Monday. |
Mugabe’s land policies to blame for food shortages
The MDC Secretary for lands and agriculture, Renson Gasela, has said Robert Mugabe should accept full responsibility for the serious food shortages currently sweeping through the country. |
U.Z. student leaders suspended over protests
UZ authorities have responded to student demonstrations by suspending members of the student leadership. Student Mfundo Mlilo believes the suspensions are null and void saying the charges which were being levelled against them had been dropped by CID Law and Order. |
Dramatic increase in Zimbabwean refugees threatens South Africa
In the last month or so, the number of Zimbabwean refugees flowing into South Africa is reported to have gone up so drastically that organisations offering assistance are beyond their capacity. South African officials are said to have openly complained that the recent influx is overwhelming. |
ZANU-PF chef tries to evict Trevor Ncube’s mother
A bid by a former provincial governor and Zanu PF provincial chairman, Jacob Mudenda to evict media mogul Trevor Ncube’s mother from her house in Bulawayo, backfired in the courts last week. The property, estimated at Z$1 billion, is registered under Kroutz Investments (Pvt) Ltd, a company owned by Ncube and was bought for use by his mother and two nephews. |
And tribute paid to Zimbabwean and South African women
On Friday women around the world celebrated what is known as the Women's World Day of Prayer, a day set aside to pray for an end to abuses against women and to acknowledge their strength and beauty. This year special focus was placed on the struggles of women in Zimbabwe and South Africa. |
Record breaking football star snubs Zimbabwe for Welsh national team
A 17-year-old Zimbabwean made history on Wednesday after becoming the youngest ever football player for the Welsh national team. Lewin Nyatanga, whose mum was born in Wales but Dad is a Zimbabwean, featured in the 0-0 draw with Paraguay at the Millennium stadium in Cardiff. A toe infection nearly threatened to derail his record breaking debut but he somehow managed to go through a late fitness test ..... |
New cholera outbreak kills 6 as central areas are quarantined
It’s been reported that there is a cholera outbreak in two central districts of the country that has killed six persons and infected 137 others. The report quotes Health officials in Zimbabwe who said on Tuesday the epidemic had broken out in Gokwe and KweKwe. According to Angola Press, the officials said quarantines had been established in all affected areas in an effort to bring the cholera outbreak under control quickly..... |
Unconstitutional Education Bill passed by ZANU-PF majority
A majority of ZANU-PF members of parliament voted to pass the controversial Education Amendment Bill on Tuesday, despite a report by the Parliamentary Education Committee which said this legislation was unconstitutional. The bill gives powers to the Education Minister and secretary to determine school fees and allows them to prescribe jail terms or fines to any school officials who defy them. |
British court throws out Zimbabwe government case against Mawere
“Grotesque extravagance” were the words used by a UK Judge in throwing out an application by the Zimbabwe government, through a nominee company, to expropriate businessman Mutumwa Mawere’s company assets. The case which was heard in London on Thursday was between a ZANU PF front company, AMG Global Nominees Private Limited, and African Resources Limited (ARL). The Zimbabwe government needed the consent of the English courts to complete the takeover of his company.... |
University police accused of stealing school fees from arrested student
The student leaders who were arrested earlier this week finally gained their freedom on Wednesday after spending several nights under shocking conditions in prison. Their lawyer said he believed the Attorney General had refused to prosecute and the police will have to proceed by summons. |
Zimbabwe Action Support Group accused of faking rallies
The group has been accused of faking rallies and holding ‘ghost meetings’ in a bid to fraudulently solicit money from donors. The accusation was carried in a report by the Centre for African Journalists (CAJ) news website. |
Coltart turns down pro-senate position and remains neutral
Former legal affairs spokesperson for the MDC, David Coltart has turned down his appointment to the National Executive of the pro-senate faction. Coltart told us that he has always wanted to preserve his neutrality so he can help the two warring factions reach an amicable divorce. A press statement issued with a list of new officials for the group was sent out on Wednesday. |
Rates and transport prices go up second time in a month
The illegal commission running the capital city has raised rates for residents by more than 100% and increased the fixed water consumption charges by about 400%. Harare residents say they were shocked when they received their bills for February. |
Continued detention of student leaders challenged in High Court
Lawyers representing six student leaders arrested on Monday for leading a demonstration against tuition fee hikes at the University of Zimbabwe have approached the High Court seeking their urgent release. |
Farcical start to V.O.P. trial
David Masunda, Arnold Tsumba, Lawrence Chibwe, Nhlanhla Ngwenya, Millie Phiri and Isabella Matambanadzo are facing charges of contravening the Broadcasting Act. Under Zimbabwean laws seen as draconian by journalists, radio stations have to get licences before they can broadcast anything. |
A1 settlers re-selling grain donated by NGOs in Chiredzi
The profits being made by some A1 settlers who are selling grain in Chiredzi are staggering, but what is even more staggering is that the grain they are selling is donated by Non-Governmental Organisations. |
Mutumwa Mawere claims penury
The South African based businessman continues his campaign to expose how his business empire has been systematically destroyed and sold off by the Zimbabwean government. |
Opening day protests at University of Zimbabwe lead to six arrests
Six student leaders from the University of Zimbabwe were arrested on Monday after leading a demonstration on the opening day of the new semester. |
Tsvangirai faction dismisses MDC pro-senate congress
The MDC faction led by Morgan Tsvangirai has dismissed the congress held in Bulawayo this weekend by the pro-senate group as just a private meeting of individuals who do not represent the MDC. |
MDC mediator Brian Raftopoulos welcomes the Mutambara factor
In the aftermath of the congress by the MDC pro-senate faction which took place in Bulawayo this past weekend, political analyst and MDC advisor Brian Raftopoulos said the election of former student leader Arthur Mutambara as leader of the pro-senate camp is a positive development. |
Pro-senate MDC goes to congress
All roads are leading to Bulawayo this weekend as those who support the MDC pro-senate faction gather for their national congress. The group’s information department said Friday that delegates were arriving from all parts of the country. Several diplomats are reported to have made the journey as well. |
Cost of bread rises to Z$ 65,000 in massive price hike
Teachers, soldiers and civil servants received their salaries on Thursday with no joy visible on their faces. Our Harare correspondent said people woke up to “earth shattering” price increases Thursday morning, making Wednesday’s earthquake a source of much humour |
Chiyangwa and Paradza expelled from ZANU PF
The state controlled Herald newspaper reports that Zanu PF has expelled former Mashonaland West provincial chairman and businessman Mr Philip Chiyangwa and former Makonde legislator Mr Kindness Paradza. Chiyangwa was a former MP for Chinhoyi |
| Powerful earthquake rocks many parts of Zimbabwe A powerful earthquake, measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale rocked many parts of the country on Thursday morning sending many people from their beds onto the streets. The quake also struck large parts of Mozambique. |
| 62 NCA members arrested in fresh demonstrations in Harare For the second time this week, police have arrested members of the National Constitutional Assembly who were demonstrating against what they called the holding of Mugabe ’ s lavish birthday celebrations scheduled for Mutare this weekend. |
| Another University planning to strip Mugabe of honorary degree The President of the University of Massachusetts will consider revoking an honorary doctorate awarded to Robert Mugabe. This was discussed during a press conference on Wednesday at the home of Nelson Mandela.. |
| Bogus war veterans vow to evict deputy minister from farm Deputy Education minister Isiah Shumba is being hounded off his plot by a group of bogus war veterans at Somerby estate about 20 km outside Harare, towards Norton. The deputy minister recently took over the farm homestead after the original owner of the property fled. |
Botswana withdraws permits from 10,000 Zimbabweans
The government in Botswana has withdrawn resident and work permits from over 10 000 Zimbabweans who have been working there for more than five years. |
Bulawayo civic groups compete to promote rival MDC factions
Bulawayo Agenda and Bulawayo Dialogue have apparently taken sides in the ongoing opposition feud. The two groups are set to host meetings in Bulawayo... |
Arthur Mutambara
The return of former student leader Arthur Mutambara to the country has landed like a bombshell in the increasing fraught world of opposition politics. |
NCA Demonstrators to be released
Police in Harare have charged 43 National Constitutional Assembly demonstrators under the Miscellaneous Offences Act and have fined each of them Z$250 000. |
Former student leader Arthur Mutambara nominated to lead pro-senate MDC faction
The MDC Secretary General Professor Welshman Ncube confirmed reports that former militant student leader Arthur Mutambara is one of the candidates expected to be nominated for the post of president. |
MDC Tsvangirai faction resolves to seek amicable split
The MDC National Council led by Morgan Tsvangirai, met this weekend to prepare the agenda... |
Reshuffle expected following Mugabe’s attack on cabinet
Robert Mugabe could be planning a major cabinet reshuffle following a stinging criticism of some of his underperforming ministers. |
WOZA women in the UK hold successful demo at Zimbabwe Embassy
The Women of Zimbabwe Arise held a successful demonstration this past Saturday at the Zimbabwe Embassy in London. |
| Food riots erupt at mealie-meal delivery in Bulawayo A food riot is reported to have broken out in Bulawayo Friday afternoon after a delivery of the scarce mealie-meal arrived at a local shop. 10 people were injured and windows were broken as riot police tried to control the situation. |
| WOZA women released without bail after 3 nights in crowded cells 64 women from the pressure group Women of Zimbabwe Arise appeared before a Harare magistrate Friday charged under the Miscellaneous Offences Act. They were the last out of nearly 300 who were arrested Tuesday at a Valentines Day march. |
Zimbabweans in Mozambique anxious about political change
About half a million Zimbabweans are now based in Mozambique and most of them are finding it extremely difficult to adjust to life in that country. |
| Officials concealing spread of skin disease in Harare Prisons The government is allegedly keeping silent about a skin disease outbreak at Harare’s Central and Remand Prisons. Our correspondent Simon Muchemwa said efforts to curb the spread of the ailment have failed. |
Call for Chombo to resign as cholera takes more lives in Epworth
Harare residents are calling for the resignation of the minister of local government Ignatius Chombo after it was announced that 5 more people had died from cholera in Epworth during the past week. |
Police arrest 21 students during countrywide demonstrations
The students are protesting the shocking tuition fee hikes and what they consider to be government neglect of their welfare in a hyper-inflationary environment. Wednesday's protests at NUST in Bulawayo spread to the University of Zimbabwe and the Bulawayo Polytechnic on Thursday. |
US$9 million payment saves Zimbabwe from IMF expulsion
The International Monetary Fund released a statement on Wednesday saying Zimbabwe had paid US$9 million, clearing its overdue balance with the IMF General Resources Account (GRA). |
Police accused of abuse and torture by arrested WOZA women
Hundreds of activists from the pressure group Women of Zimbabwe Arise are still languishing in police custody at Harare Central Police station, and officials say they are being physically abused by the police. |
Leading lawyer speaks out on the rot in cricket
One of the country’s leading defence lawyers, Beatrice Mtetwa says its clear the interim committee running Zimbabwe Cricket has adopted a divide and rule tactic to get at players opposed to the top management. |
Supreme Court throws out Tsvangirai challenge to Mugabe presidency
On Tuesday the court threw out a constitutional challenge by MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai in which he sought the nullification of the 2002 presidential election. The elections were won by Zanu PF’s Robert Mugabe amid allegations of violence, intimidation and electoral fraud. |
| Arrested WOZA members forced to pay fines in Harare More than 150 members of The Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) who were arrested in Harare Tuesday were still in police custody on Wednesday evening. The police had finally decided to charge them under The Miscellaneous Offences Act for conduct likely to cause breach of the peace. |
| South Africa speeds up Zimbabwe asylum cases as 1000 arrive daily The Zimbabwe Action Support Group in South Africa (ZASG) has expressed concern over the amount of Zimbabweans being refused asylum in neighbouring South Africa. ZASG spokesman Rogers Mudarikwa said at least 1 000 Zimbabweans are risking their lives to to get into SA daily. |
Global diaspora conference planned for next year
A national network of 18 Zimbabwe civic organisations based in South Africa has resolved to host the first ever global diaspora international conference. |
Police arrest over 500 for various offences in “Operation Valentine”
Police blocked a march by the Women of Zimbabwe Arise who had gathered for a peaceful Valentines Day march in Harare on Tuesday afternoon. They took away 2 truckloads and 5 police Defenders full of members, among them were 3 infants, some elderly women and one disabled member on crutches. |
More deaths, no solution as cholera takes 13 more lives
The Health Ministry reportedly announced that 5 people died from cholera in Epworth, and 8 in the Kwekwe and Gokwe districts. This makes a total of 27 across the country in just over a month. At least 250 victims are being treated nationwide. Yet officials have no known plan to stem the spread of water-borne diseases, or to address the underlying causes. |
2 Zimbabweans nominated for international human rights award
Zimbabwe has been put on the spotlight again. Jenni Williams, the WOZA corordinator and Arnold Tsunga the Director of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights are among four people nominated for the Martin Ennals (MEA) Award for Human Rights Defenders for 2006. |
African Commission report on Zimbabwe
Opposition MP David Coltart moved a motion in parliament commending the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights for adopting a resolution on human rights violations in the country. Government Chief Whip in parliament Joram Gumbo however insists the motion is not well researched because the AU Council of Ministers have not adopted the Commission’s resolutions yet. |
| Police arrest over 100 WOZA women at peaceful Bulawayo demonstration Members of the Women of Zimbabwe Arise and students from The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) marched through central Bulawayo on Monday, singing and holding placards with the theme ‘bread and roses’. |
Corruption and lack of resources plague Operation Garikai in Gwanda Journalist Warren Moroka visited the sites where construction of houses for the victims Operation Murambatsvina is supposed to be taking place in Gwanda. He said there was no activity and the houses are not complete. Some have no doors or roofing and there is no electricity or water. In short, the homes are inhabitable. |
Reserve Bank scraps fuel coupon system over abuse
Zimbabwe’s thriving black market has scuppered a pilot project launched by the Reserve Bank to harness foreign currency from people wanting to buy scarce fuel. Under the scheme anyone with forex could purchase fuel coupons and trade these in for either petrol or diesel at participating fuel stations. |
MDC delegation holds successful USA meetings despite bad weather
Severe snow in some parts of the USA failed to stop rallies by a delegation of the MDC led by spokesman Nelson Chamisa. They are on a whirlwind tour of the diaspora, addressing supporters in both the UK and the US. Chamisa, Makokoba MP Thokozani Khupe, National Chairman Isaac Matongo all addressed a gathering in Philadelphia at the weekend. |
Biti dismisses fake draft 'MDC' constitution being circulated
Lawyer and Harare East Member of Parliament, Tendai Biti has dismissed as fake, a draft ‘MDC’ constitution being circulated to party supporters and the media. The document gives the impression party leader Morgan Tsvangirai is trying to amend the MDC constitution and give himself excessive powers and an unlimited term in office. Biti says he is chairing a committee tasked by the National Council to draft constitutional reform proposals. No other organ of the party was carrying out a parallel process. |
Is old age slowing Mugabe down, as Mujuru continues as Acting President Robert Mugabe’s health status continues to be a mystery as there is never an official comment or statement about his well being. But over the last two months speculation is rife over the condition of the dictator who turns 82 on the 21 st of February. Mugabe is supposed to be officially back at work after his annual leave expired at the end of January but state media is still reporting that Joyce Mujuru is acting president. Commentators say the latest reports allude to the “mysterious disappearance of the president which has set tongues wagging in diplomatic circles.” |
| Agriculture minister ridicules CFU call to end farm evictions A statement released last Friday by the Commercial Farmers’ Union (CFU), calling on the government to turn around its current land and agricultural policies and rejuvenate agriculture has been dismissed as hogwash by the Minister of Agriculture Joseph Made. In a harsh statement published in the government newspaper The Herald, Made said: "The white farmers have suddenly realised their irrelevance in the current agricultural set-up and have decided to write statements instead of accepting reality." |
Expensive trips for unavailable products at inflated prices
Our correspondent in Mashonaland West says the price of most basic commodities has skyrocketed, but ironically those same things are not anywhere to be found. Mike Mutasa says he made the rounds in Chinhoyi, and was not able to find mealie-meal or sugar. But he said there were signs in the shops advertising the new prices for these products. |
SA opposit ion to quiz Mbeki over his Zimbabwe statements
On Thursday The Democratic Alliance party in South Africa said they plan to submit parliamentary questions to President Mbeki regarding his statements to the SABC that Zimbabwe’s opposition reached an agreement on a new constitution with the ruling party 2 years ago. |
Farmers sceptical about Mugabe land grab reversal
A report in the UK Telegraph newspaper says Robert Mugabe has begun to reverse his controversial land grab policy and will soon offer some white farmers an opportunity to lease back their property in Zimbabwe. |
| High Court orders review of Daily News ban The MIC denied the paper a licence on spurious technical grounds despite several of its commissioners recommending the granting of one. On Wednesday Justice Rita Makarau set aside this decision and said they needed to look at it again. |
MDC leaders reject Mbeki’s claims of an agreement with ZANU-PF
T he Zimonline news site reports that leaders of both factions of the MDC have rejected South African president Thabo Mbeki’s claims that they signed an agreement on a draft new Constitution with Zanu-PF in 2004. |
Shock rise in University of Zimbabwe tuition fees
The cost of university education rose 10 times in the last week following a decision by the University of Zimbabwe to set their fees at over Z$ 35 million a year from the previous Z$ 3,5 million. |
Murambatsvina victims living destitute lives in Glen Norah
Over 150 victims of Operation Murambatsvina at Glen Norah C’s home industries are still living in the open. They have become destitutes in a surburb they used to call home. Many in the area are now using sheets of plastic and broken pieces of furniture to construct makeshift houses. |
Zimbabweans shocked at death of great humanitarian Sheba Dube
On Tuesday morning, Zimbabweans suffered a great loss when the well-known humanitarian Sheba Dube Phiri died unexpectedly while attending a conference just outside of Bulawayo. The woman affectionately called Auntie Sheba was fine on Friday night when she received an award from the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance. |
Zimbabweans in Bots. forced into sex
We continue to receive reports of how illegal Zimbabwean immigrants are being ill-treated in Botswana. The latest is that a group of men and women from Zimbabwe were forced to have sex without condoms by soldiers in Botswana. |
Millers accuse Grain Marketing Board of causing shortages
Officials from the government run Grain Marketing Board (GMB) met with representatives from milling organizations in Bulawayo on Monday to discuss the shortage of mealie-meal in the city. |
Political parties mushrooming in advance of 2008 elections
Zimbabweans have been urged to be wary of political parties that mushroom overnight particularly towards election time. The call was made by political commentator Dr John Makumbe commenting on the recent formation of new parties in Zimbabwe. |
‘Zimbabwean workers turned to beggars’ says Siwela
Outspoken Zapu leader Paul Siwela has observed that the prevailing dire economic situation in the country has forced the majority of workers to go through a very pathetic situation of survival.
‘Every worker in the country is going through an extremely difficult period, including those from the sensitive areas like the Central Intelligence Organisation, police and army. |
SA cuts power to Zimbabwe
South Africa’s power utility Eskom confirmed at the weekend that it had switched off power to Zimbabwe, for ‘maintenance.’ |
| Mbeki says Zimbabwe missed its chance to solve crisis South Africa’s president defended his “quiet diplomacy” on Zimbabwe on Sunday when he told SABC TV that Zimbabwe missed a chance to resolve its political crisis 2 years ago. |
Doctors urge govt to address disease
The lack of adequate service delivery by government is contributing to the outbreak of disease and continues to pose a health threat. |
MDC leaders hold meetings with activists in the UK
An MDC delegation, led by national chairman Isaac Matongo is on the first leg of their three nations tour... |
Chegutu mayoral nominations peaceful but full of surprise
The nomination court for the upcoming Chegutu mayoral election was held on FridayThe former opposition councillor for ward 6 Cephus Magaso reported that both factions of the divided MDC submitted candidates. |
Zapu leader says Mugabe now a liability to Zimbabwe
Paul Siwela, the outspoken leader of Zapu believes Zimbabwe will not survive until the end of this year with Robert Mugabe as head of the country. Siwela says Mugabe has become such a liability that people could rise against him anytime now if the economic situation continues to deteriorate unabated. |
MDC team prepares for strategic international tour
A delegation of MDC officials led by party chairman Isaac Matongo start a tour of Europe, USA and South Africa to meet with opposition structures. MDC representative in Brussels Grace Kwinjeh said the party is inviting the Diaspora to contribute to a policy and ideology report. |
HIV scandal as government chefs divert medication
The poor people in Zimbabwe who are afflicted with the HIV/AIDs virus are slowly dying because government chefs are interfering with their treatment. They are diverting vital medication for their own use and in some cases replacing ARV with placebos. |
Tsvangirai deported from Zambia
The opposition president and 8 senior officials were deported from Livingstone, Zambia in the early hours of Thursday morning. |
Tsvangirai deported from Zambia
The opposition president and 8 senior officials were deported from Livingstone, Zambia in the early hours of Thursday morning. Tsvangirai had been in Zambia on business for three days and Chamisa said the deportation was illogical as they had passed thru the Zimbabwean and Zambian border posts without a problem. |
US President Bush offers more rhetoric but no action on Zimbabwe
The crisis in Zimbabwe has again been highlighted on the world stage, this time by US president George Bush in his State of the Union Address delivered Tuesday night. Grouping Zimbabwe with oppressive regimes in Syria, Burma, North Korea and Iran, Bush declared that the "demands of justice" require "freedom" from Mugabe's dictatorship. |
Sex for houses scandal in “Garikai” housing scheme
A housing scheme in Cowdray Park Bulawayo, meant to benefit victims of governments operation murambatsvina, has been hit by allegations of sex for houses claims. |
Media Commission blackmails newspaper into retracting story
One of Zimbabwe’s last remaining independent newspapers ‘The Zimbabwe Independent’ has allegedly been blackmailed into retracting an accurate story in order to secure accreditation for its journalists. |
IMF presents report to government
The International Monetary Fund - the IMF - has been in Zimbabwe for a week and is due to hand over a report to government officials on Wednesday. State-controlled radio admitted the IMF report could prove crucial in terms of the country retaining its membership. |
Zanu PF bids to takeover Dynamos
Government ministers and wealthy businessmen linked to Zanu PF are reportedly trying to buy into the country's biggest football team, Dynamos. Ignatius Chombo and Mashonalalnd East Governor Ray Kaukonde are said to be interested. |
Warriors save the best for last
Zimbabwe's gallant perfomance on Tuesday night might have saved coach Charles Mhlauri's job, which was hanging by a thread following two dismal showings against Senegal and Nigeria. |
Bus fares go up nearly 200%
Fares for long distance buses went up Tuesday by nearly 200% adding more strain to passengers hard hit by the economic crisis in Zimbabwe. A single trip to Mutare from Harare now cost at least Z$1m. |
New Z$50,000 note
Further evidence of Zimbabwe's run away inflation came out Wednesday when a new Z$50 000 bearer cheque into circulation. The purple coloured note has been introduced by the Reserve Bank to try and reduce the amount of notes people have to carry when transacting their business. |
Students spearhead campaign to re-unite opposition factions
Students in Zimbabwe have initiated a campaign to bring together the 2 opposing factions of the MDC. With separate plans for the annual MDC congress underway, the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) has met with leaders from both sides... |
NGO's spark debate
by urging IMF not to expel Zimbabwe. Fambai Ngirande for the National Association for Non-Governmental Organisations said the expulsion of would widen the disparities between the rich and poor. |
Masvingo police admit chefs ordered looting of farm equipment
The Zimonline news site reports that the Masvingo assistant police Commissioner Loveness Ndanga admitted the Farm Equipment Committee which she heads took equipment in the area under political orders. |
Chegutu Mayor to seek re-election despite victimisation
Francis Dhlakama has declared his intention to seek re-election a month away from forthcoming mayoral elections. |
EU extends sanctions to continue
The European Union on Monday extended for another 12 months a series of sanctions against Zimbabwe |
Zim cricket manager dismissed
The country's national cricket team manager, Babu Meman, has been sacked after 15 years on the job. |
Land grabbing exercise moves into urban areas
The policy of seizing white owned farms in Zimbabwe is now spreading to white owned properties in urban areas. Gletwyn Estate, incorporated under the City of Harare, has now been grabbed by the police. |
Campaign of fear
The government is intensifying its campaign against people perceived as enemies. Any questions considered critical of government are being interpreted as a sign of betrayal. |
Zim experiences massive power-cuts
Continuous power-cuts in the last two weeks have almost paralysed the nation. The government has been struggling to improve the country’s electricity supply. |
SA editors to change on xenophobia
A xenophobia conference for news editors in Southern Africa was held in Johannesburg on Monday and the outcome was encouraging. |
Zimbabwe Independent journalists refused accreditation
All journalists working for the Zimbabwe Independent Newspaper were on Friday denied accreditation by the Tafataona Mahoso-led Media and Information Commission. |
Warrior woes
Zimbabwe soccer fans are calling upon the Zimbabwe Football Association officials to show coach Charles Mhlauri the exit door the moment the Warriors land at the Harare International airport. |
Mutasa threatens journalists
The Mail & Guardian newspaper reports minister of State Security and Land distribution Didymus Mutasa warning journalists in Zimbabwe that the net will soon close in on them. Speaking to the state-controlled Manica Post Mutasa berated journalists claiming they threaten national security. |
Chinese language in universities
Observers have slammed Robert Mugabe's "Look East" policy, which is now threatening to see the introduction of the Chinese language Mandarin in universities. These plans were recently announced by Stan Mudenge... |
Parishioners vow to pursue Bishop
The controversial Anglican Bishop Nolbert Kunonga was dragged to court to face 38 charges from inciting murder, intimidating and firing priests who were opposed to his leadership. |
Right to work campaign for asylum seekers gathers momentum in UK
A campaign to allow failed Zimbabwean asylum seekers the right to work is picking up steam in the UK and activists believe they will succeed. Currently, Zimbabweans who are denied asylum cannot be returned home because of conditions prevailing there. |
Cricket players to sue board for wages
Lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa has been engaged by Zimbabwe's leading cricketers to sue the Zimbabwe Cricket Board for unpaid salaries and fees. They will pursue the Board for US$750,000 unless they receive money owed to them by the end of the month. |
Worries that food shortages could spark civil unrest
The commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, General Constantine Chiwenga is worried the deteriorating food shortages in the country could ignite civil unrest. Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono revealed during his monetary policy statement this week that the Defence Forces commander had approached him and requested him to improve the food... |
AU fails to act on Zimbabwe again
African heads of state are being praised for blocking the Sudan from chairing the African Union and for electing judges for an African human rights court at their just ended summit in Sudan. |
Authorities clash with transport operators in Bulawayo
The police in Bulawayo have launched a series of uncoordinated operations where they have been stopping and impounding vehicles and booking commuter operators who have increased fares. |
MDC meet IMF
Officials from the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) met a delegation of the International Monetary Fund in Harare on Thursday. |
Harrassment of lowveld farmers
Zimbabwe police are alleged to be harassing Chiredzi farmer Gerry Whitehead and another lowveld farmer, accusing them of disabling their equipment which was taken illegally by the police. |
Riots over long delays in processing asylum applications in SA
South African police fought running battles with asylum seekers from Zimbabwe on Saturday at a refugee centre in Johannesburg. |
International business helping China to block democracy worldwide
The Chinese business boom is attracting all sorts of customers due to its huge market and cheap products and businesses worldwide are choosing profit at the expense of democratic principles and human rights. |
Crocodiles die of hunger at Zim Tourism authority chef's farm
At least 12 crocodiles have starved to death on a farm near Chegutu and another 258 are close to dying. |
Police admit arrest of Radio VOP trustees political
There are increasing signs that police in the country are getting fed up with taking political instructions from the top about who to arrest and for what. |
Police arrest & release VOP trustees
Several members of the Voice of the People Board of Trustees were arrested on Tuesday after handing themselves over to police. |
Police arrest & release VOP trustees
Several members of the Voice of the People Board of Trustees were arrested on Tuesday after handing themselves over to police at Harare Central Police Station in the presence of their lawyers. One of the trustees told journalists they were held at the Headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Department in Harare. |
Economist predicts more gloom
Although the Reserve Governor has made some changes to the exchange rate policy when he announced his quarterly monetary review statement on Tuesday, economists say it's not sustainable. |
Price rises in Bulawayo
The record setting drop in the value of the dollar is already causing serious problems for the average Zimbabwean family. In Bulawayo commuter omnibus operators raised the price of a trip to town so drastically that the police had to intervene. |
Determined Zimbabwe warriors fall to Senegal
For almost an hour on Monday the 'Warriors' of Zimbabwe were on the verge of pulling off an unlikely draw or even victory against the star-studded Senegalese 'Lions of Teranga'. |
MDC factions in UK
A rival MDC faction in the UK led by Sipho Nkala held a meeting in Leicester this Sunday... |
Robert Mugabe rated 4th on list of world's worst dictators
Zimbabwe continues to hit the international headlines and sadly all for the wrong reasons. |
Bulawayo Agenda organises crucial Matabeleland Water Conference
Matabeleland province has suffered from water shortages for as long as many Zimbabweans can remember, and nothing has been done as the situation continues to deteriorate. |
Protesters embarrass Mugabe in SA
A group of Zimbabweans based in South Africa held a successful picket at a local clinic Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace visited. |
Foreign currency shortage paralyses cattle dipping operations
Villagers in the Masvosva area of Rusape say their cattle have not been dipped for 3 months. The headman in the area blames the villagers for not paying up their subscriptions, which in turn are used to finance the cattle dipping. |
Media harassment continues
The harassment of journalists in Zimbabwe continues unabated... |
Mudede suspends passports
The Zimbabwe government has temporarily stopped issuing new passports... |
MDC factions in UK
A rival MDC faction in the UK led by Sipho Nkala held a meeting in Leicester this Sunday... |
Cheated by Home Link scheme
The Zimbabwean newspaper reports that several Zimbabweans in the diaspora feel that the Reserve Bank's Home Link project may have been a scam. The scheme attracted them last year because they could send money home that would be released in local currency for the construction of homes. |
Diarrhoea outbreak hits Hopley Farm
A severe outbreak of diarrhoea is reported to have hit Hopley Farm outside Harare last week, and 2 cases of cholera were also detected. The crowded squatter camp is where government is keeping some of the victims of last year's demolition exercise Operation Murambatsvina and blocking any outsiders from gaining access. |
Homes near Mugabe's retirement palace to be confiscated
Government has told homeowners near Robert Mugabe's US$10 million retirement mansion in Harare's Borrowdale suburb that it is going to confiscate their houses. In written warnings delivered to 15 property owners on Wednesday, the valuation department of the Local government ministry told them their homes fell under a designated security area. |
Rival MDC UK factions set to meet
The rival faction of the MDC in the UK, led by Sipho Nkala, is scheduled to meet this Sunday in Leicester. Nkala said the main item on their agenda will be to define whether activists in the UK should follow the party's constitution or follow individuals on procedural matters. |
Police say reports of Limpopo drownings were false
Police officials have said that the reported drowning of 60 Zimbabweans in the Limpopo river and carried by the state media are false. It had been alleged by both government’s electronic and print media that the Zimbabweans were caught by flooding while trying to cross the border illegally into South Africa. |
Zimbabwean fugitives back in jail
Police in Botswana has rearrested 7 of the ten Zimbabwean prisoners who escaped from a Gaborone central prison last week Friday. The mass jail break, which left authorities there dumbfounded saw the ten prisoners tying blankets together and using them as a rope to scale down a prison window after breaking the iron bars. |
Dunlop workers being kept in the dark over possible takeover
Thousands of workers from Dunlop, the country's leading tyre manufacturing company are being kept in the dark over a possible takover of their company by an Indian based company.
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Daily News workers wrangle with management over printing press
Journalist Sandra Nyaira has criticized her former employer for neglecting the welfare of its journalists. She said besides the issue of their pensions not being resolved.. |
11 drown in the Limpopo
A flooded Limpopo River is reported to have claimed the lives of at least 11 Zimbabwean border jumpers on Monday. It is feared the victims were swept away in the crocodile infested river as they attempted to swim to South Africa. |
Majongwe's passport returned
Raymond Majongwe, the Secretary General of the Progressive Teachers Union finally had his passport in his hands on Wednesday. This was after the Zimbabwe lawyers for Human Rights gave the police 48hrs to return the passport or face legal action. |
Parks Authority blamed for animal deaths
A standoff over a donation between the Zimbabwe Conservation Taskforce and the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority could have grave consequences for the welfare of animals at Hwange National Park. Already some animals are reported to have died as a result of bureaucratic tendencies by the National Parks... |
Chitungwiza Mayor sues Chombo
The High Court on Tuesday heard the case in which Chitungwiza Mayor Misheck Shoko, argued that his suspension was unconstitutional. |
Chitungwiza Mayor sues Chombo
The High Court on Tuesday heard the case in which Chitungwiza Mayor Misheck Shoko, argued that his suspension was unconstitutional. |
Zimbabweans in mass Jail-break in Botswana
Ten Zimbabweans escaped from a central prison in Gaborone, Botswana in a daring jail-break that is being compared to scene in a James Bond movie. |
Zimbabwean analyst Brain Kagoro calls for revamp of the opposition
Kagoro was speaking on the programme Hot Seat on the political crisis in the country and the devastating effects caused by the infighting within the 6 year old opposition party. |
Justice Paradza's conviction a warning to other Judges
A human rights lawyer has said the conviction of Justice Benjamin Paradza could be a warning to other sitting Judges that they would be dealt with if they don't comply with the political leadership in the country. |
Flawed council elections ignored
Zimbabweans have yet again shown that they are no longer interested in elections as long as the playing field is not free and fair. |
Mbare market closure adds more misery for the poor in Harare
Human rights lawyers have described the closure of the popular Mbare fruit and vegetable market in Harare as an attempt to victimise vendors. |
Government moves to nationalise fertiliser companies
The state-controlled Herald newspaper reported Monday that the government is moving to takeover the country's three producers of fertiliser. |
Asylum seekers offered cash to go back home
The UK Immigration department has embarked on a new campaign to reduce the numbers of asylum cases and perhaps save on the costs of detaining and deporting failed cases. |
Farming Soldiers
The Zimbabwe Independent newspaper has reported that Government has deployed uniformed forces into Mashonaland West province - to grow food.
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Exiled journalists launch website
The website will provide an outlet for journalists home and abroad to get their stories published. |
MDC fielding 2 separate candidates for council elections
It's reported that the two camps are planning to field separate candidate for the by-election scheduled for this Saturday in Chitungwiza. |
Businesses urge SA government to abandon "quiet diplomacy"
As the political and economic crisis next door in Zimbabwe continues to deteriorate, businesses in South Africa are becoming more concerned.. |
Police bar Jonathan Moyo's UPM party from Zvishavane rally
Fledgling political party, the United Peoples Movement was on the receiving end of some of the laws its founder, Professor Jonathan Moyo helped to create. |
Poverty breeding resentment of foreigners in SA
We have run a series of reports on the growing resentment against foreigners in South Africa. Several Zimbabweans died over the past 2 months in riots attributed to xenophobia, but it is actually poverty that is fuelling the violence. |
Husband and Wife die of hunger
Hunger has claimed another life in drought stricken Matabeleland South province.The latest death occured at Vulindlela village about 65 km south-east of Bulawayo in Nswazi reserve. |
| Runaway inflation in Zim |
Warrant issued for Justice Paradza
The Zimbabwe High Court on Friday ordered the arrest of one of the country's senior judges. |
Zimbabwe university students prepare for collision with government
There is growing unrest in Zimbabwe over the deteriorating situation in the country. |
Opposition told to reconcile differences or face oblivion
Sidney Masamvu says the international community and pro-democracy institutions were slowly drifting towards the idea of working with a reformed Zanu PF instead. |
High unemployment fuelling xenophobia in SA
Recent clashes between South African locals and foreigners are being attributed to resentment towards foreigners who are seen... |
Who is the real MDC in the UK
Infighting among activists in the UK has seen the party split into two groups following a meeting... |
Who is who in the MDC-UK district?
The Birmingham meeting held by MDC activists in the UK this past Sunday reaffirmed the district’s loyalty to MDC Zimbabwe and a commitment to the party's objectives and principles as upheld by the National Council and party President Morgan Tsvangirai. |
Crisis Group analyst tells MDC to reconcile or bust
An analyst with the International Crisis Group (ICG) has told feuding factions within the opposition MDC that they need to reconcile their differences or sink into oblivion. Sidney Masamvu who covers the Southern African region for the ICG warned the MDC that the international community and other pro-democracy institutions were slowly drifting towards working with a reformed Zanu PF instead. |
High unemployment fuelling xenophobia against foreigners in S.A.
The recent clashes between South African locals and foreigners are being attributed to resentment towards foreigners who are seen to be stealing jobs and competing for other resources. |
Zimbabwe university students prepare for head on collision with government
There is growing unrest in Zimbabwe over the deteriorating situation in the country. Many say the time has come to pile on the pressure through civil disobedience. |
Is the USA backtracking on Zimbabwe?
Zimbabwe’s opposition and civic groups have been warned that as long as they do not force the opening of democratic space, the US and Europe will be forced to come to terms with the Zimbabwe government. |
Government responsible for cholera
The state controlled Herald newspaper reports that the government on Monday banned the public sale of fish and all meat products in an attempt to control the spread of cholera. The fruit and vegetable market at Mbare Musika was shut down with immediate effect and the vendors who are still managing to earn a living selling food are bound to face tough times as a result. |
High court urged to order arrest of Masvingo police official
A group of farmers in the lowveld area filed a High Court application last week urging the court to order the arrest of Masvingo Assistant police Commissioner Mrs. Ndanga. The seven farmers owned equipment which was seized illegally by the Masvingo Farm Equipment Committee which Ndanga is in charge of. |
Protests erupt at teachers college over sudden fee increase
There was chaos at Mkoba Teachers College on Monday after students demonstrated against a sudden fee increase announced by authorities on the opening day of the term. |
Border migrant office causes concern
The Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF) has described the recently opened migrant centre between the Zimbabwe-South African border as an intelligence-gathering scheme. |
Pro-senate MDC denies new name
The saga continues in the MDC. The state controlled newspaper, The Chronicle reported this past weekend that the MDC pro-senate group had adopted a new name calling itself the Pro-Democracy Movement for Democratic Change. |
State security sabotaging sales of Mapfumo's 'Rise Up' album
The increasing popularity of Thomas Mapfumo's latest CD, 'Rise Up' has worried government authorities enough for them to begin trying to sabotage sales of the album. |
More Zimbabweans arrested in South Africa
A crackdown on illegal immigrants has seen over 2000 Zimbabweans being arrested by authorities in South Africa. Most of those detained were picked up by police and immigraion officials in Pretoria and Johannesburg last week. |
Schools to open with fewer students
Schools in Zimbabwe open Tuesday with many students not returning because their families cannot afford the school fees and uniforms which were both increased recently. The cost of a complete uniform set that includes a blazer shot up in some cases by up to 300%. |
MDC UK heading towards a split
MDC activists in the UK have reacted with anger to allegations that they belong to a splinter group headed by Washington Ali, the apparent chairman of the party in the UK. |
| Lack of employment and housing fuelling xenophobia in South Africa Tension between South Africans and foreigners reached boiling point at the informal settlement of Olievenhoutbosch in Pretoria on Tuesday. |
MDC won't participate in forthcoming council elections
The newly elected MDC Provincial Chairman for Manicaland Province, Roy Bennett, has said the opposition party will not be participating in any elections. |
Executive mayors to be scrappedThe government is set to scrap the position of elected Executive Mayors from all urban councils and replace them with their own Chief Executive Officers. |
Government takes over Zim cricket The government has taken control of cricket in the country and has appointed an interim board chaired by Peter Chingoka, the figure at the centre of the current crisis in the sport. |
MDC activists pushing for peace deal There is a strong belief among MDC activists in the UK that peace can be brokered between the two splinter groups in the party. |
NCA deputy spokesman arrested and then released without charge
Outspoken National Constitutional Assembly’s deputy spokesman Last Maengahama spent almost eight hours in police cells on Tuesday, when police details raided his offices and arrested him at the same time. |
Nigerians accused of running illegal brothels in South Africa
A Zimbabwean woman who escaped from an illegal brothel in Johannesburg has exposed a sex slave trade that is run by Nigerians who use Zimbabweans to recruit. |
Disabled victims of operation Murambatsvina evicted
Nine months after the government’s Operation Murambatsvina left over 700,000 people without shelter or employment, many of the victims are still without a stable home. No-one has been spared, not even the elderly or the sick. |
Anglican church has no money for Kunonga trial
In a sensational twist to the ecclesiastical trial of Bishop Nolbert Kunonga which collapsed a few months back an Archbishop in the church has told Newsreel there is no money for a retrial. |
Refugee crisis in South Africa
The refugee support community in South Africa is gravely concerned about the mass deportations of Zimbabwe refugees and have asked the Pretoria government to stop the exercise. |
Mugabe’s look East policy fails to attract tourist
End of year figures released by The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority .. |
Chombo suspends all 17 MDC councillors in Mutare
The Minister of Local Government has intensified his campaign against the opposition and suspended all 17 MDC councillors in the Mutare City Council. A caretaker commission, made up of ZANU PF candidates who lost in the last council elections in 2003, has been appointed to run the affairs of the council. |
Anglican parishioners and the Bishop Kunonga case
A councilor of the Cathedral Committee in the Anglican Church, Walter Gwete says parishioners who lodged a complaint against Bishop Nolbert Kunonga of Harare will not rest until justice is served. |
Ambulance fees now 5 million Zimbabwe dollars
The demand for ambulances is more critical now than ever, yet those who need this service the most cannot afford it. As of January 1 st, the city of Harare raised ambulance fees to 5 million Zimbabwe dollars per trip. And at a time when all sorts of diseases are affecting entire families, calling an ambulance is no longer an option. |
Refugee crisis in South Africa
The refugee support community in South Africa is gravely concerned about the mass deportations of Zimbabwe refugees and have asked the Pretoria government to stop the exercise. |
Mugabe’s look East policy fails to attract tourist
End of year figures released by The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority have revealed a sharp decline in the tourism industry and the country’s failure to attract much needed visitors from the East. |
South African police bribes
Despite promises by South Africa’s Home Affairs department that Zimbabweans in the country would receive better treatment from the police and immigration officials, we continue to receive reports that nothing has changed on the ground. |
| African Commission balks at judgement Gabriel Shumba, an exiled Zimbabwean lawyer suing the government for torture at the African Commission on Human and People's Rights (ACHPR) has expressed reservations at the delay in reaching a decision. He believes the ACHPR is not prepared to confront Robert Mugabe on human rights abuses in the country. |
MDC activists warned against using South Africa as a base
South Africa has issued a stern warning to members of the Zimbabwe Action Support Group that it will not tolerate any activities by its members to destabilise Zimbabwe using their country as a base. |
MDC say government to blame for collapse of city councils
Chitungwiza Mayor, Misheck Shoko, was suspended by government last week Thursday over allegations of misconduct and maladministration. He becomes the third opposition Mayor to be removed from office despite being elected by the residents of Chitungwiza. |
MDC UK branches to meet
The chairman of the MDC in the UK, Washington Ali, said on Tuesday all branches will have a crucial meeting on Sunday in Birmingham to examine events that have rocked the party in the last two months. |
Zimbabwe name Nations Cup squad
Zimbabwe coach Charles Mhlauri named his 23-man squad for the forthcoming Nations Cup finals in Egypt on Tuesday. |
2005 review: Is Zimbabwe ready for face to face confrontation with the regime? by Violet Gonda
2005 was undoubtedly an agonising year for most Zimbabweans. This was the year that saw the Mugabe regime flexing its muscle and tightening its grip on power. From the imposition of draconian laws, rigging elections, acts of violence, arresting journalists and activists to continued illegal farm evictions. |
African Commission adopts strong critical resolution on Zimbabwe
Intense lobbying by human rights organizations and individuals seems to have paid off. Meeting at their 38th Ordinary Session in Banjul, the Gambia from November to December, The African Commission on Human and People’s Rights adopted a resolution on Zimbabwe which
Arnold Tsunga, Executive Director of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights described as one of the most critical resolutions on Zimbabwe. |
Malawi cooperating with Zimbabwe to block refugees seeking safe haven
Zimbabweans have been acquiring passports from Malawi for a long time now because the process was simple and success was almost always guaranteed. And as the economic and political crisis in Zimbabwe has dragged on for years now, the Malawi route had become an oasis for many trying to escape to South Africa or across the oceans to Europe and America. |
Immigration giving Majongwe the run around over seized passport
Activist, poet and secretary general of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, Raymond Majongwe is still without a passport after state agents seized it from him at Harare Airport earlier this month. |
Lack of amenities forces ZANU-PF beneficiaries to leave Hopley Farm
Most of the people who were allocated stands and houses at hopley farm recently during the visit by Young have started complaining of the poor living conditions at the holding camp. |
Economic crisis will force Mugabe
Zimbabwe’s opposition has called on its supporters to confront Robert Mugabe’s regime in the New Year arguing this was the only feasible way of removing him from power. |
Vetting of deportees from South Africa expected to last a week
There are fears government will take up to a week to clear most of the 160 deportees who were flown from South Africa on Wednesday. Although the majority of the people are women and children, the government insists a security check be carried out to ascertain if all those returned were not fugitives who ran away from the authorities. |
Zanu (PF) stooge blocking asylum applications in South Africa
Activists based in South Africa are furious that a top official working on cases of Zimbabwe asylum seekers is in fact a sympathiser of Robert Mugabe. The official, who himself was granted refugee status after fleeing from the DRC, allegedly regards Mugabe as his hero for intervening to save the collapse of the Kinshasa government after it had been invaded by Rwandan and Ugandan forces. |
Preparations for MDC congress on schedule despite split
A top official in the MDC has claimed that, efforts to destroy the opposition party, by the Zanu (PF) government, has failed. Sekai Holland, Head of a policy and ideology review committee, set up to bring peace in the party, said Zanu (PF) had used internal forces within the MDC structures to try and crush the party, which unfortunately failed to materialise. |
Is Zimbabwe a military state as most analysts point out
There are fears that the military in the country could be pulling the strings into the way the government is being run. With almost every important parastetal now being run by former soldiers, analysts were quick to draw a conclusion that the country was now under military rule. But a retired former soldier said Zimbabwe is under a civilian government, but whose many policies, are being implemented by senior army officers.
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Shortage of bank notes ensures bleak Christmas
A crippling shortage of bank notes ensured a miserable Christmas for most Zimbabweans as banks struggled to meet customer withdrawals over the festive period. |
Zimbabwe detains 160 deportees from South Africa
State radio reported that 160 Zimbabweans deported from South Africa are in detention pending interrogations by Zimbabwean authorities. |
MDC invites diaspora to contribute
The so-called brain drain that has hit Zimbabwe in the last few years has taken away most of the country’s skilled professionals and left a vacuum that has had devastating effects on all sectors. |
Football revision
In our last story Tichaona reviews footballing events of 2005 with soccer organizer Mike Makope. They will also look at the first major event of 2006, the Nations Cup Finals in Egypt, in early January as well discuss the current happenings in the English Premiership league. |
Issue of legitimacy remains as Tsvangirai is expelled
Officials in the pro-senate camp of the MDC announced they had expelled the party’s president Morgan Tsvangirai over the weekend. The action was taken on Saturday by a disciplinary committee comprised of members from the pro-senate faction led by secretary general Welshman Ncube. The opposition has split into 2 factions, both of which are claiming to be the legitimate MDC. The same committee suspended Tsvangirai earlier...... |
VOP director speaks on arrest
The VOP radio station director, John Masuku who was released on Z$4 million bail after police launched a crackdown on his station has told Newsreel of his ordeal at the hands of the police. |
| Heavy police presence kills holiday spiritThe presence of uniformed police on all major roads leading into the capital and in the central business district has defined the mood of this year’s holiday season. Harare residents told us they feel as though they are living in a military state. |
Rains come, but hunger, looting and ethnic cleansing continue..
The rains that have pelted Zimbabwe for the last few days would normally have brought much joy to those growing food on the commercial farms and on little plots along the roadsides around the country, but for many this year, they have brought little benefit. |
National soccer squad named
The national soccer team is expected to leave the country for France in two weeks time for a training session before heading to Egypt via Tunisia for Nations Cup finals.Coach Charles Mhlauri on Monday released the names of a 30-man squad that would be trimmed to 23 before the Warriors jet out of the country. |
Hotseat
Morgan Tsvangirai has spoken out over accusations by his colleagues that he is engaged in diversionary tactics to hide his failures as head of the opposition party. |
Test for media laws
The Executive Director of VOP radio, John Masuku who was arrested Monday after handing himself over to police, is set to appear in court on Wednesday morning. |
Thousands stuck at Beitbridge
Traffic continues to be gridlocked at the Beitbridge border post as hundreds of thousands of people flock home for Christmas. They are all coming from South Africa and travelling to their respective homes. |
Bread goes stale in Bulawayo
Supermarkets in Bulawayo who were hoping to maximise their profits by ordering huge quantities of bread pending a price increase have been left stunned by the sight of stale bread on their shelves. |
Zimbabweans on the festive season
Christmas is only a few days away, but for most Zimbabweans, the festive period will pass as a non-event as many are struggling to grapple with the economic crisis, that has reduced many to begging. Most people would be trapped in their own homes, not by force but through lack of resources to plan for anything worth celebrating. |
MDC Restructuring
The crisis-ridden opposition party is in the process of restructuring the party’s 12 provinces ahead of a National Congress scheduled for February. The outspoken MDC official and commercial farmer Roy Bennett was at the weekend elected Provincial Chairman for Manicaland at a regional congress attended by over 850 delegates.
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VOP Radio Director arrested
The Executive Director for Voice of the People radio station, John Masuku was arrested by police at 11am on Monday. On a day in which public prosecutors ordered the release of three female journalists from VOP after 5 days in detention, Masuku and Board Chairperson David Masunda handed themselves over to the police. |
| Dispute over recent suspensions intensifies split within the opposition Conflicting statements have again come from the two camps of the now divided opposition party, this time over recent suspensions of pro-senate leaders and officials. |
| MDC activist released from Jail in SA The fiery activist was arrested last week Tuesday for allegedly using false documents. But in his first interview after the release, Remember Moyo said his arrest was as a result of an administrative issue. |
UN Security Council briefed on worsening crisis in Zimbabwe
Jan Egeland, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, told the UN Security Council that the situation in Southern |