Constitutional referendum may be held in September 2011
The Parliamentary committee spearheading the drafting of a new constitution has said it expects a referendum on the draft to be held in September next year, raising doubts about an election in 2011.

Western countries urge electoral reforms in Zimbabwe
A grouping of western countries called the ‘Friends of Zimbabwe’ has urged the government to implement major electoral reforms, to ensure free and fair elections.

US sanctions on Tomana for ‘undermining democratic process’
Johannes Tomana, the Attorney-General unilaterally appointed by Robert Mugabe two years ago, has been placed on the US sanctions list for ‘undermining democratic processes in Zimbabwe.”

Thousands stuck at chaotic Beitbridge border post
Conditions at Beitbridge have been described as ‘chaotic’ and ‘depressing’ by Finance Minister Tendai Biti, after he visited the border post on Monday.

MDC-M deny report of violent factions
The Zimbabwe Mail news reported that mobs belonging to rival MDC-M factions fought running battles in Mutare Sunday, after Manicaland province rejected Welshman Ncube’s nomination as MDC-M leader.

Kunonga’s ‘supporters’ pledge unwavering support to ZANU PF
Senior priests in the Anglican church faction led by excommunicated Archbishop Nolbert Kunonga, have declared their support for ZANU PF and its leader Robert Mugabe.

WikiLeaks says Mugabe offered lucrative UN exit package
A US diplomatic cable released on the WikiLeaks website has revealed that Robert Mugabe was offered a lucrative exit package by the United Nations in 2000, which he turned down.

Welshman Ncube set to take over MDC-M Presidency
Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara has said he will not seek re-election as the MDC-M president during his party’s congress, slated for January next year. This leaves party secretary-general, Welshman Ncube, the favourite to take over the presidency.

Top diamond official denies trade in Zim blood diamonds
The World Federation of Diamond Bourses has denied that vice-President Ernest Blom dealt in diamonds from the controversial Chiadzwa alluvial fields. This was an allegation that surfaced in one of the WikiLeaks cables.

Women’s Coalition to block Mugabe’s 2011 elections
Women in Zimbabwe have come out against the idea of elections in 2011, saying that a full implementation of the GPA is necessary before any polls. Speaking for the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe, National Coordinator Netsai Mushonga, said they would approach local political parties, African ambassadors in Zim, SADC leaders and GPA facilitator Jacob Zuma.

ZAPU leader removed from US targeted sanctions list
The leader of the revived ZAPU party, Dumiso Dabengwa, has officially been removed from the US targeted sanctions list. Dabengwa, and fellow former ZANU PF politburo member Thenjiwe Lesabe, were among a group of 17 people removed from US sanctions lists around the globe.

ZANU PF conference to endorse Mugabe’s call for early elections
ZANU PF delegates to their annual conference, which begins in Mutare on Friday, are set to unanimously back Robert Mugabe’s call for an election next year.

SA blames Zim for documentation backlog
South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister has blamed her Zimbabwean counterparts for not issuing enough passports in time, for the hundreds of thousands of Zim nationals trying to regularise their stay in South Africa.

Donors threat to withdraw funds from NGO hijacked by ZPF
International donors have threatened to pull the plug on the Family Aids Care Trust (FACT), a non-governmental organization, allegedly hijacked by ZANU PF and now removing MDC supporters from its projects.

Zimbabwe protecting Rwandan genocide suspect
The chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda has accused the Zimbabwean government of protecting 1994 genocide suspect Potrais Mpiranya.

MDC MP Amos Chibaya arrested
MDC-T legislator Amos Chibaya was arrested in Gweru on Sunday, after he had addressed a youth meeting at his constituency in Mkoba the previous day. Chibaya’s driver was also arrested and both are still being held in police cells in Gweru.

ZANU PF hijacks NGO program in Makoni district
A Non Governmental Organisation in Manicaland province, Family Aids Care Trust (FACT), has been hijacked by ZANU PF and is now distributing farming inputs, medicines and bicycles to ZPF card carrying members only. FACT has for years worked with the poor and the vulnerable in Manicaland without looking at political affiliations, but that changed in recent weeks.

Evicted farm-invading MP back on land
An MP for Somabhula who has been trying to take over the property of an elderly farming couple, has forced his way back onto the land after being evicted by the courts earlier this year. MP Jabulani Mangena has led a campaign of harassment, vandalism and violence against Philip and Ellen Hapelt and their workers, claiming he has an offer letter entitling him to their Grasslands farm.

Gono adviser accused of raping 11 year old girl
Dr Munyaradzi Kereke, an advisor to Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono, has been accused of raping an 11 year old girl at his home in Vainona, Harare. Despite medical and police records confirming this, he continues to walk the streets a free man. Speaking on our Question Time programme, Girl Child Network founder, Betty Makoni, said the child is traumatized and has been refusing to go to school since September.

Confidential report says ZANU PF is constantly fighting
One of the confidential reports released by the whistle blowing WikiLeaks website reveals that a senior ZANU PF official told Charles Ray, the US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, that there was serious infighting within Mugabe’s party. The official, identified as Mudarikwa, likened ZANU PF to a troop of baboons incessantly fighting among themselves, but coming together to face external threats.

Zuma’s meek Zim mediation role slammed
South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma is facing intense criticism for his handling of Zimbabwe’s political crisis, with his main opposition accusing him of taking a meek approach to Mugabe.

Defeated Mugabe refused calls from African leaders
The latest revelations from the WikiLeaks website show that Mugabe, smarting from an election defeat to the MDC-T in 2008, was unwilling to take calls from most African leaders. A leaked US diplomatic report from June 2008 quotes Ugandan President Museveni, telling this to US assistant secretary for Africa, Jendayi Frazer.

SA Public Protector called in over Zim deadline
South Africa’s Office of the Public Protector has this week been called on to intervene on behalf of tens of thousands of Zimbabweans, trying to regularise their stay before the end of the year.

SADC taught a lesson by West Africa over stolen elections
West Africa has dismissed unity government proposals, favoured by the Southern African Development Community, as a bad idea, demonstrating how the regional bloc should have handled Zimbabwe’s stolen election.

Harare residents call for Chombo suspension/ investigation
More than 500 Harare residents endured heavy rains Tuesday and went on a protest march in the city centre against corruption and greed in the city of Harare. Organised by the Combined Harare Residents Association, residents are demanding that the Minister of local government, Ignatius Chombo, be suspended pending an investigation into his alleged illegal acquisition of land in the capital.

Indian government bars trade in Zim diamonds
The Indian Government’s Union Ministry of Commerce has moved to stop its country from importing controversial diamonds from Zimbabwe, amid growing pressure for international traders to shun stones from the country.

Journalist claims politburo member ‘instigated’ assault
Newsday’s Masvingo correspondent, Tatenda Chitagu, said he was assaulted on Sunday by ZANU PF youths at the instigation of politburo member Dzikamai Mavhaire.

ZCTU say country should only have presidential election
Lovemore Matombo, president of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, has said the country does not need a parliamentary election next year and should instead only hold a presidential election.

MDC-T Senators return to work
It was business as usual in the Senate on Tuesday as MDC-T senators resumed normal sittings following a directive from their party to end their protest against the presence of ZANU PF governors.

Zim Consular General insists no deportations from SA
Zimbabwe’s Consular General, Chris Mapanga, has insisted that South Africa will not resume deportations of Zimbabweans in the New Year. Fear of deportation is rife among South Africa’s community of undocumented Zimbabweans, as the deadline to get legal permits to remain in the country comes to an end on December 31st.

WOZA to sue police after winning Supreme Court ruling
Women of Zimbabwe Arise are finalising plans to sue the Zimbabwe Republic Police, after a recent Supreme Court ruling declared they were wrongfully imprisoned over a demonstration in 2008.

Court asked to prevent Chiadzwa diamond exports
A Harare court has been approached to prevent the government’s mining corporation from selling Chiadzwa diamonds, mined controversially by the Canadile mining group.

ZANU PF withdraws support for POSA amendments
The former ruling ZANU PF party has withdrawn its support for changes to the Public Order and Security Amendments Act (POSA). The draconian legislation gives untold powers to the police, who apparently opposed changes to the Act.

Constitutional data storage ‘a mess’ and easy to manipulate
The Independent newspaper has reported that the important information collected during the constitutional outreach meetings is being kept at the Copac offices in Harare, but it is not secured and can easily be manipulated.

Body of Gokwe villager still at mortuary after two years
We have been reliably informed that the body of Moses Chokuda, a Gokwe villager who died over 2 years ago under suspicious circumstances, has still not been buried and is lying at the mortuary in Gokwe South.

MDC calls for non-partisan land audit
The MDC has this week urgently called for a transparent and non-partisan land audit, calling it “paramount to national survival.”

Zuma, Banda stand by Mugabe on sanctions
South Africa’s and Zambia’s leaders have again shown their support for Mugabe, calling on Thursday for targeted sanctions against the regime to be dropped.

Amnesty wants Zim government to deal with Hopley health crisis
A report released Thursday by the rights group Amnesty International has revealed shocking statistics on newborn deaths at an informal settlement south of Harare.

Standard editor bailed as state ordered to probe police
The editor of the weekly Standard newspaper has been released on bail, with the same magistrate who heard the case ordering the state to probe the abuse of power by the police.

Rushinga teachers flee on foot as CIO botch abduction
Six teachers being vicitmised by ZANU PF militants in Rushinga fled Gwangwava Primary School on foot, after a botched abduction attempt by a member of the notorious Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO).

CIO agent abducts six teachers in Rushinga
The Progressive Teachers Union has expressed concern over the whereabouts of six teachers, thought to have been abducted by a state security agent in Rushinga Wednesday. Only last Friday a labour court ordered that Julius Mawarire, Tinashe Mavurayi, Talent Muchakazi, Angela Zanza, Silibaziso Mawire and Maphios Chisora should be reinstated at Gwangwava Primary School…

Standard editor arrested as media clampdown intensifies
The editor of the weekly Standard newspaper, who handed himself over to police this week, was officially arrested Tuesday and formally charged, as the clampdown on the media continues to intensify. Police had tried to arrest Nevanji Madanhire on Monday, but the editor wasn’t at his offices and went into hiding.

Mugabe allies back lifting of sanctions at EU summit
Allies of Robert Mugabe have used a European Union (EU) summit in Libya to lobby on the dictator’s behalf, for the lifting of Western targeted sanctions in place against the regime.

ZUJ President deplores crackdown on journalists
The President of the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ), Dumisani Sibanda, on Wednesday said the country is ‘sliding back to the pre-GPA era where journalists are being hunted down and terrorized by the state.’