MDC Manicaland spokesman beaten and arrested
Pishai Muchauraya the outspoken Information officer for the Tsvangirai MDC in Manicaland was arrested on Monday as the crackdown against opponents continues. As he was being driven from Mutare by security officers Muchauraya was able to send an urgent text message to alert human rights lawyers and journalists. He said: “They are taking me to Harare in connection with recent bombings.

May Day rallies to go ahead despite threats from Zanu PF thugs
Only 3 out of 34 districts in the ZCTU have cancelled their May Day celebrations following threats from Zanu PF thugs and supporters. Labour officials in Mashonaland East, West, Central and Masvingo were threatened with forced evictions from their homes, assault and even murder if they went ahead with the May Day celebrations.

Tsvangirai expected to address rally in London
MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai is expected to address a rally in London next week, a senior party official in the UK said on Monday.
Jaison Matewu, the MDC’s organising secretary in the UK said Tsvangirai, who is currently outside the country briefing party activists in the diaspora about the current events back home will address a star rally on 12 th May.

Harare City clinics shut down as health workers strike
Now is not a good time to be pregnant in Zimbabwe ’s capital. A strike by Harare City ’s health workers that started last Monday has forced the city’s clinics to shut down. All patients, including pregnant women, are being turned away. Our correspondent said nurses and all essential staff walked off the job demanding decent salaries and better working conditions.

Student leader abducted at Hillside Teachers College
The president of the Students Union at Hillside Teachers College , Tafadzwa Chengewa, was abducted from his campus in Bulawayo on Thursday & has not been seen since. He was taken by 4 unidentified men in black suits who drove an unregistered Mazda 323. ZINASU president Promise Mkwananzi said colleges in Bulawayo & surrounding areas have been searched & lawyers are assisting.

Pro democracy advocates at the UN to drum up support
A united front of pro-democracy activists from Zimbabwe gave first hand accounts of Robert Mugabe’s brutal suppression of opponents at the United Nations on Wednesday. Media reports said the group, which included civic activists, lawyers, and senior officials from the MDC, briefed international diplomats on the horrors suffered under a brutal government crackdown that began two months ago.

Court orders police to investigate themselves over assaults
A Harare magistrate Thursday ordered police to probe their own assault of opposition activist Philip Mabika. Mabika is among 30 activists in remand prison on discredited allegations of petrol bombing government targets. Magistrate Lazarus Murendo ordered that he be taken to hospital for treatment and for doctors to ascertain his injuries and establish the cause.

Mugabe invitation to Portugal hinges on talks with opposition
Portugal has delayed sending out an invitation for Robert Mugabe to attend to the EU-Africa summit set for November in Lisbon . Their decision will depend on the outcome of peace talks between Zanu-PF and the MDC.

Tsvangirai’s top aide denied bail
Top MDC Presidential aide Ian Makone was on Thursday denied bail by a Harare magistrate. This is the fourth time he’s been denied his freedom since he was arrested on 28 th March.Makone, who appeared with other MDC activists facing different set of charges is himself being charged with allegedly recruiting and training insurgents, bandits, saboteurs or terrorists was remanded to the 11 th of next month.

Gono admits inflation over 2000%
Bulawayo has never seen so many luxury motor vehicles before! So said businessman Eddie Cross, who is the Policy Coordinator for the Tsvangirai MDC in Bulawayo . He was at the large City Hall Thursday where Reserve Bank governor Gideon Gono announced his new monetary policy review. Cross said the venue was “magnificently decorated” and criticized Gono and his RBZ colleagues for being too extravagant when the country was struggling.

Tight security around Zuma as Free-Zim youths demonstrate
Once beaten twice shy seems to have been the approach of South African officials at the High Commission in London after they blocked access to the venue to youths from radical pressure group Free-Zim Youths UK. The group had planned a demonstration against S. A’s Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Zuma over statements she made that her country could not work magic in Zimbabwe .

Two lecturers fired as govt shuts down Masvingo State University
The state controlled newspaper The Herald reported that 2 lecturers were fired and 2 student leaders were dismissed at Masvingo State University on Tuesday as the government shut down the institution indefinitely. This follows a strike by lecturers demanding a 200% hike on their salaries. Takavafira Zhou, president of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe was one of the lecturers that were fired.

Chikafu case highlights intimidation of the judiciary
A Mutare court on Tuesday ordered the release of former state prosecutor Levison Chikafu from police custody. Chikafu hit the headlines last year after pursuing two cabinet ministers in a case involving political violence. On Thursday last week the tables were turned on him by a vindictive Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa who allegedly engineered a set of corruption charges that led to his arrest.

MDC says, no negotiations – no election
Roy Bennett, the treasurer general of the MDC, said they would not be pushed into participating in next year’s elections, and a decision would only be made at the conclusion of mediation talks between the MDC and Zanu (PF). Bennett admitted the MDC was extremely worried at the slow pace of the mediation efforts by President Thabo Mbeki, adding that despite the setback they hope there is still a way forward.

Kuwadzana WOZA activists severely beaten in custody
The pressure group Women of Zimbabwe Arise reports that several members were severely assaulted while in police custody. 56 activists and 10 babies were detained Monday for protesting at the ZESA offices in Kuwadzana. They were transferred from Kuwadzana police station to Harare Central where some of them were beaten.

Four MDC activists denied bail again
Four MDC activists facing charges of allegedly petrol-bombing several targets in the country have been denied bail by a Harare magistrate. Bertha Chikururama, Friday Mleya, Raymond Baki and Washaya have been in police custody for the last four weeks. MDC MP for Budiriro, Emmanuel Chisvuure, said the four were denied bail when they appeared before a Harare magistrate on Monday.

Anglican Bishops blasted for supporting Mugabe
In what appears to be a response to the Pastoral letter issued by the catholic Bishops last month criticising the Mugabe regime for its greed and brutality, the Anglican bishops issued their own version during Independence Day celebrations. The letter blamed the crisis on targeted sanctions imposed on the Mugabe regime, claiming they had affected poor Zimbabweans.

Free-Zim youths to confront Zuma at London embassy
The UK based group plans to demonstrate against South Africa’s Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dhlamini Zuma, at that country’s high commission on Wednesday. This will be the second demonstration against Zuma following last year’s disruption of her address in London .

WOZA protestors and babies arrested in Kuwadzana
There were warning shots and arrests in Harare ’s Kuwadzana high density area when riot police used force to disperse a WOZA protest. Over 60 women, men and babies from the pressure group were detained as they continued with demonstrations demanding ‘power to the people’ at the offices of the ZESA. WOZA said 36 women, 20 men and 10 babies were arrested.

MDC officials and family members abducted
Three senior members of the MDC were abducted from their homes on Friday night as the orgy of violence against opposition figures entered it’s sixth week on Monday. Those abducted by suspected state operatives were the deputy national organising secretary Morgan Komichi, the director of elections Dennis Murira and his wife, plus organising secretary for Glen Norah Elliot Motsi and his three sons.

Violent farm grabs return: police, army & lands officials defy laws
Farmers in the sugar growing lowveld area report that illegal and violent farm seizures have intensified in the last few weeks.  White farmers still on their properties believe there is a renewed drive by the government to finally eliminate all whites from commercial farms in the area by the end of the year.

Prosecutor who charged Minister still locked up
A state prosecutor who last year led a case against two cabinet ministers is still in police custody, 4 days after his arrest last week Thursday. Levison Chikafu took on the might of Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa after charging him with attempting to defeat the course of justice by putting pressure on a key witness in a trial against State Security Minister Didymus Mutasa. He also called for the arrest of CIO agent Joseph Mwale on allegations of murdering two opposition officials.

Zimbabweans hold prayer vigil at Embassy in London
A prayer vigil at the Zimbabwean Embassy in London attracted over one hundred participants on Saturday including visiting officials from the Christian Alliance. The event was organised by the Zimbabwe Vigil group which has been conducting demonstrations there every Saturday for some years now.

Missing WOZA activist found
Scores of WOZA activists who were arrested on Thursday for protesting at the ZESA offices were released on Friday afternoon. But several people are said to have been badly beaten including Clarah Makoni and Angeline Karuru who had taken food to the victims at one of the police stations. WOZA coordinator Jenni Williams told us both girls were severely assaulted before they were release

WOZA activist missing after Thursday arrests
Scores of WOZA activists who were arrested on Thursday for protesting at ZESA offices were released Friday Afternoon. But several people are said to have been badly beaten, including Clarah Makoni and Angeline Karuru, who had taken food to the victims at one of the police stations. WOZA coordinator Jenni Williams told us both girls were assaulted before they were released.

Prosecutor who pursued minister arrested on flimsy charges Police in Mutare have arrested prosecutor Levison Chikafu who led a case against a senior government official last year. Police quizzed him over allegations that he received money from a jailed murderer and consented to the granting of bail to undeserving suspects. On Thursday Chikafu in the company of his lawyer handed himself over to Mutare police after being told they were looking for him.

SABC prevents staff access to SW Radio Africa website
Journalists at the South Africa Broadcasting Corporation are denied access to SW Radio Africa’s website. Any attempt to access our web address returns a message that says “Access to the requested URL has been denied by SABC Policy.” Several journalists and an editor at SABC confirmed this on Friday. Last year a list came to light of political commentators who were banned from being used by SABC.

Police claim South Africa is training MDC activists in terrorism
The ruling Zanu (PF) regime has claimed South Africa is training MDC activists in terrorism. South Africa is understood to have taken exception to this and dispatched it’s intelligence minister Ronnie Kasrills to Harare for an urgent meeting with Didymus Mutasa, the state security minister.

WOZA leaders on the run and 83 activists arrested in Bulawayo
At least 83 activists were arrested in Bulawayo and 8 were beaten when members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise and Men of Zimbabwe Arise demonstrated at 8 local ZESA offices Thursday. The activists went into ZESA offices & delivered their protest message of Power to the People to officials, asking for better service delivery.

Arrested youth leaders dumped in bush near Marondera
5 leaders from the Zimbabwe Youth Movement were bundled into a truck after riot police violently broke up their rally at Huruyadzo shopping centre in Chitungwiza Wednesday. The youths said they were trying to commemorate a betrayed revolution, which has seen the ideals of the liberation war being forsaken by the Zanu PF regime.

Electoral reforms designed to favour ZANU-PF
Electoral reforms announced in the state media Thursday have been criticised due to government’s failure to consult other stakeholders and for favouring the ruling party. The state’s Herald newspaper reports that the government has almost completed the alteration of boundaries for Harare Metropolitan Province in preparation for joint elections in 2008.

Portugal facing stiff resistance over plans to invite Mugabe
Most European Union countries could boycott a summit with African leaders set for Portugal in December if Robert Mugabe is allowed to travel there. Reports this week suggested Mugabe was likely to be allowed to travel to Portugal for a second summit between EU and African leaders.

Chaos in Chitungwiza as police crush youth rally
A rally by the Zimbabwe Youth Movement in Chitungwiza was stopped by police who sealed off Huruyadzo Centre and beat up everyone suspected of involvement in the event. A spokesman told us and everything went out of control when police began beating without provocation. ZINASU president Promise Mkwananzi said police details were armed with AK-47’s, accompanied by police dogs and indiscriminately fired teargas.

Shops closed, people forced to attend Independence Day address
Police in Harare forced shops to close and herded people to Rufaro Stadium in Mbare to hear Mugabe on Independence Day. With the ongoing arrests, torture of opposition officials and supporters, and ever increasing inflation rates Zimbabweans did not have much to celebrate. Mugabes speech contained the usual negative venom against the British and opposition parties.

MDC stopped from attending Independence celebrations in Mutare The officer-in-charge of Mutare central police station, Inspector Florence Marume, personally instructed her officers to block an MDC delegation from entering Sakubva stadium for the Independence celebrations. The MDC delegation, which included provincial spokesman Pishai Muchauraya, was travelling in a party vehicle when they were stopped at the gate and ordered to turn back.

Cabinet agrees to combine elections
The Herald newspaper reports that the cabinet has approved proposals to harmonise presidential and parliamentary elections in 2008. It said the Cabinet met on Monday and endorsed all proposals, except the issue of whether the Senate should be chosen through proportional representation or through elections.

Government withdraws NGO licences as crackdown widens
The Zimbabwe government has cancelled licences for Non Governmental Organisations alleging that they are being funded by the west. But critics say this is the usual paranoia and a ploy by the regime to silence critics. The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition said this is an illegal act and a violation of the law as it stands while other c ivic groups say it is a political move meant to intimidate people.

Three more arrested as concern grows for detained activists
Police continued their violent campaign of arresting and assaulting opposition officials and supporters over the weekend. In the Sizinda suburb of Bulawayo on Saturday they arrested MDC activists Nqobile Mguni, Pius Mpofu and Thubelihle Siwela. Police did not specify charges and transferred them to Harare.

Demonstrations lined up in the diaspora to mark Independence Day Activists all over the world have lined up a series of demonstrations to express their condemnation of Mugabe’s crackdown on the opposition. UK protesters will march to the British parliament in Westminster and a petition will be handed over asking the UK to put pressure on African leaders and use their influence to solve the country’s crisis.

ZEC plans to deny millions of Zimbabweans right to vote
The Zanu (PF) led regime has set it’s rigging machinery in motion by announcing that it will deny close to 5 million Zimbabweans living in exile the right to vote in next year’ presidential and parliamentary elections. Zimbabwe Election Commission spokesman Utloile Silaigwana told the state controlled Herald that only those on official government duty outside the country would be eligible to vote.

Opposition leaders say nothing to celebrate on Independence Day
On the eve of Zimbabwe’s 27th Independence Day celebrations, the two leaders of the country’s divided opposition united in acknowledging there was nothing to celebrate. Newsreel on Tuesday spoke to both Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara to get their thoughts on the celebrations.

Drama in court as tortured MDC activist suffers cardiac arrest
An MDC activist who was tortured in police custody last week suffered a cardiac arrest during a court hearing and had to be resuscitated by paramedics inside the court. The incident happened last week in Harare magistrates’ court when the activist suddenly lost consciousness and stopped breathing.

Parliament cancels US funding for reforms
According to the state controlled Sunday Mail newspaper Austin Zvoma, the Clerk of Parliament, said an agreement has been terminated with the United States Agency for International Development because of allegations the State Department is working with some portfolio committees of parliament to discredit the government.

Police ‘allow’ prayer meeting but ban political speakers
Zimbabwe ’s church leaders have said they will go ahead with a prayer meeting in Bulawayo ’s Makokoba Township Saturday. The Herald newspaper quotes police spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena saying the Save Zimbabwe Campaign was a political gathering and not a prayer meeting. Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara where scheduled to speak at the gathering. Police have said it can only go ahead if they do not include the politicians in the program.

Zapu leader says crisis talks should not be secret
Outspoken Zapu leader Paul Siwela said it would be useless for the MDC to engage Zanu (PF) in any talks if they go to the negotiating table as underdogs. He added that it would be pointless to agree to talks where terms will be dictated to the opposition, as this will guarantee certain victory for Mugabe and Zanu (PF) in negotiations.

Civic group says 2008 elections too soon
David Chimhini, the director of the Zimbabwe Civic Education Trust, says there are numerous reasons elections should not be held in 2008. He said the most obvious reason is that government does not have the capacity or the money to run elections at this time.

Terror campaign moves to Bulawayo
This follows revelations the Joint Operations Command comprising all the security services has directed the crackdown be implemented countrywide. According to Nelson Chamisa, spokesman for the Tsvangirai MDC, over 4 activists were abducted on Tuesday in Bulawayo . National executive member Sikululekile Nkala and Themba Nyathi were moved to Harare , arriving there around 3’O clock Wednesday morning.

MDC MP living in fear following threat to life
Tongai Matutu, the MDC MP for Masvingo, says he is living in fear because word has got to him that he’s a prime-target of the country’s notorious state security agents. Matutu was tipped-off last week by sympathetic members of the security forces after a Joint Operations Command provincial meeting in Masvingo put him at the top of a hit list of ‘trouble-makers’ in the town.

Catholic Church issue strong pastoral letter on crisis
Catholic bishops have written what has been described as the most critical message on the crisis in Zimbabwe , in a pastoral letter for Easter. The Catholic bishops concluded in their statement that the crisis in Zimbabwe is a crisis of governance and a crisis of leadership, apart from being a spiritual and moral crisis.

Perpetrators of violence responsible under international law
On Tuesday Giles Mutsekwa, the secretary for Security and Intelligence in the Tsvangirai MDC, said police and military agents who are perpetrating violence against their officials and supporters should remember that one day they will be held responsible for their actions. Mutsekwa explained that the MDC has contacts currently serving within the police and military who volunteer information.

Former Zambian President Kaunda urges Mugabe to open up talks
ZAMBIA'S founding president Kennneth Kaunda today urged his long-time ally Robert Mugabe to open talks with Zimbabwe's opposition in order to end the political crisis in the southern African nation.

Last Chiredzi farms under threat
Digby Nesbitt was visited by Dep Chief Commissioner Veterai, (was Propol Masvingo a while back and was down here a lot). He, in company of DA, CIO, Lands et al insisted on full tour of the house, Granny Nesbitt's cottage, crocs, etc. He has told Digby to get off (date still be determined) as he will be taking the full 65ha left to Digby as well as all the housing and the crocs. He offered to pay something for the crocs.

Tortured journalist Phiri released but hospitalised
Gift Phiri , the journalist from The Zimbabwean newspaper who was abducted near his home in Harare last Sunday was finally released on bail on Thursday. His wife said that he was badly beaten and has been hospitalised. Human rights groups are concerned about the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe where opposition activists and journalists are increasingly being brutalized.

Majongwe fights his way to freedom after abduction at gunpoint
Raymond Majongwe, Secretary General of the Progressive Teachers Union, wrestled his way to freedom after being abducted by suspected state agents on Tuesday. Jacob Rukweza, the Harare Province chairperson of the PTUZ, said Majongwe decided he would rather die with one of his kidnappers than be bullied.

Abducted Zimbabwean journalist found dead
Edward Chikomba, a journalist at the state broadcaster ZBC, was abducted near his Glen View home last Thursday and his body found dumped several days later in Darwendale, just outside Harare . Our correspondent Simon Muchemwa spoke with relatives at the funeral wake at Chikomba’s home in Glen View on Tuesday.

Police use intimidation & force during first day of ZCTU stayaway Zimbabweans in most cities found armed police in their local supermarkets Tuesday morning. This was part of the intimidation used by the police on the first day of the two-day stay away organised by t he ZCTU. Many went to work out of fear but a small number heeded the union’s call to stay home.

Police fail to bring tortured journalist to court
The editor of The Zimbabwean newspaper Wilf Mbanga reports that Harare police didn’t take his chief correspondent Gift Phiri to court, as had been expected. Phiri’s lawyer spent the day camped outside Harare Central waiting for his client. There was no explanation from police for their failure to bring him to court.

Student leadership under siege as Mugabe crackdown widens Chiedza Gadzirai, a student leader at Bindura University , was allegedly threatened with rape by men believed to be state agents. Promise Mkwananzi, President of the National Students Union, said Gadzirai was paid a visit by two unknown men in suits and dark glasses.

Activists abducted from hospital and re-arrested
8 opposition officials and activists were abducted from hospital & rearrested Saturday. MDC Glen View MP Paul Madzore, National Executive member Ian Makone, MDC information officer Luke Tamborinyoka and 5 others were detained despite a court order that they be hospitalised. Tsvangirai MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said some of those abducted from hospital were on intravenous drips, but these were ripped from their arms.

ZANU-PF chooses Mugabe for president in 2008
ZANU-PF’s national spokesperson Nathan Shamuyarira announced on Friday that the ruling party had selected Mugabe as their only candidate for the presidential elections now due in 2008. The move seems to have surprised Zimbabweans who expected the ZANU-PF factions led by Joyce Mujuru and Emmerson Mnangagwa to field their own candidates.

Police detain and beat teenagers at Borrowdale nightclub
Paramilitary armed with automatic rifles stormed the up market Glow night club in Borrowdale Saturday night. They demanded identity documents & those who didn’t have them were assaulted with batons.
Revellers were forced to sit on the dance floor in silence but three who protested and kept talking were assaulted.

ZCTU stay-away begins Tuesday
The 2 day mass action stay away organised by t he Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions will go ahead Tuesday and Wednesday despite attempts by the state controlled media to put a negative political spin on the peaceful workers protest. Lucia Matibenga, first deputy president of the umbrella labour union dismissed a report in the government Herald which said the stay away had not been approved by the workers.