UN child agency reports big increase in rape and abuse cases
A shocking increase in child abuse and rape has been reported by the United Nations Children's Fund in Zimbabwe. At the launch of their campaign "Stand Up and Speak Out" in Harare Unicef reported that police figures showed child rape had increased by 42%. Dr Festo Kavishe, Unicef’s chief representative, said cases of domestic violence and assault had also increased dramatically.

Civil servants disputes over salary intensify
More civil service workers are reported to have walked off their jobs this week after government failed to increase their salaries. When their monthly pay showed up in their accounts this week, workers at the Zimbabwe National Water Authority and ZESA downed their tools. Our Harare correspondent also said officials in the judiciary have joined striking magistrates.

Suspects arrested in Tsvangirai armed SA robbery
Two suspected armed robbers who are alleged to have robbed MDC President Tsvangirai at gunpoint in South Africa earlier this month, have been arrested. George Sibochiwe, Tsvangirai’s spokesman, said the MDC leader had to fly to Johannesburg for an identification parade. However that might have to wait until April because of Tsvangirai’s hectic campaign schedule.

MDC Manicaland spokesman attacked by Zanu-PF mob
The bitter election battle in Manicaland has once again spilled over into violence after the MDC spokesman in the province, Pishai Muchauraya, was attacked by a mob on Wednesday in Old Mutare. Muchauraya, the MDC parliamentary candidate for Makoni South in next month’s elections, was travelling to the constituency with his driver and an aide when they stopped to buy some refreshments. A mob travelling in a tractor drawn trailer approached the trio outside a supermarket, close to the Africa University.

ZEC declines to investigate Zanu-PF voter registration fraud
The provincial elections officer for Manicaland has declined to investigate reports that a Zanu-PF legislator has allegedly helped ‘illegal aliens’ to register as voters. The MDC approached the head of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission in Mutare, Colonel Moffat Masabeya, and told him of reports that Zanu-PF MP for Chipinge south Enock Porusingazi was involved in voter registration fraud.

MDC houses burned and officials arrested in Muzarabani
The Tsvangirai MDC have reported that incidents of violence and arrests of candidates, polling agents and supporters have intensified around the country as we get closer to the March 29th elections. In Muzarabani on Monday the houses of several MDC activists were burnt down. Also in Muzarabani on Sunday, ward election agent Muchemwa Chihota and MDC activist Munyaradzi Nyama were arrested. It is not clear what they are being charged with.

Angry protesters pull down Zanu-PF poll posters
There are reports that ‘angry’ protesters who are against Zanu-PF’s continued misrule in the country are pulling Robert Mugabe’s posters and banners in most urban areas. The ruling party has accused the MDC of conspiring with residents to pull down posters bearing Mugabe’s face, but the opposition party has denied any involvement. Our Harare correspondent said he has witnessed many defaced ruling party election posters around the capital.

Parirenyatwa hospital stops performing operations
Zimbabwe’s biggest state-run hospital has stopped performing surgical operations as the country’s general economic breakdown worsens. The situation at Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare was confirmed by Deputy Health Minister Edwin Muguti, in the state’s Sunday Mail newspaper. Meanwhile the Chairman of the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights, Dr. Douglas Gwatidzo, said there was a lack of anaesthetics and equipment.

Tsvangirai launches manifesto and election campaign
MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has set into motion his party’s campaign programme, which will see him criss-cross the country until election day on 29th March. Addressing over 30 000 supporters at Sakubva stadium in Mutare on Saturday, Tsvangirai said once voted into power the MDC will prioritise a new people driven constitution as the foundation for a new Zimbabwe. He also launched the party’s manifesto, which showcases what an MDC government would do in critical sectors such as the economy, land, communications, transport, health and education.

Over 1200 in anti Mugabe protests at Beitbridge
Over 1200 Zimbabwean protesters based in South Africa swamped the Beitbridge border post Saturday to demonstrate against Robert Mugabe’s birthday celebrations on the other side of the border. Owing to massive food shortages in the country Mugabe is said to have chosen Beitbridge as the ideal location in order to facilitate the easy purchase and transport of food from neighbouring Musina in South Africa.

Police chief living in farmhouse, despite restraining order
In Chiredzi a police chief has invaded a cane farm, owned by commercial farmers Digby and Jess Nesbitt, and is living in their farmhouse, alongside the owners, with his family and 15 members of the youth militia. Digby said Assistant Police Inspector Veterai moved in despite a restraining court order banning this until a hearing of the case on March 10th.

Election chaos predicted
Next month’s harmonised elections will be marred by serious logistical problems, amid reports the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is not performing it’s duties. The ZEC has failed to prepare for the 29th March elections because of a lack of resources, especially funding. With just five weeks to go to elections, the new constituency and ward boundaries are still to be made public.

A birthday cake for Bob at embassy protest in South Africa
On Thursday a paper birthday cake for Mugabe on his 84th birthday was displayed at a protest by the Zimbabwe Revolutionary Youth Movement in South Africa. Group President Simon Mudekwa said about 200 Zim youths took part outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in Pretoria. The birthday cake had miniature figures of slain heroes Josiah Tongogara and Herbert Chitepo.

SADC talks ‘dead and buried’ says opposition MDC
The two factions of the MDC on Thursday, jointly announced the end of dialogue with Mugabe’s ruling ZANU-PF. They also accused South African President Mbeki of having failed to broker a resolution to the stalled talks. The talks broke down in January when Mugabe unilaterally called the polls for 29th March, leaving no time for the implementation of a new draft constitution agreed to by all parties.

Teachers’ union officials tortured at ZANU-PF headquarters
A group of 9 officials from the Progressive Teachers Union are receiving treatment at the Avenues Clinic after they were severely assaulted by ruling party supporters at ZANU-PF offices on Tuesday. Oswald Madziva, PTUZ National Coordinator, said the group was at the 4th Street bus terminus distributing flyers asking authorities to act on the collapse of the education system.

Britain calls for effective monitoring of Zim elections
British foreign secretary David Miliband has called for effective international monitoring of next month’s harmonised elections, amid serious concerns they will not be free and fair. Miliband told the British Parliament Tuesday that Zimbabwe was suffering from an economic, humanitarian and political crisis for which Mugabe was directly responsible. The foreign secretary said the conditions for elections are far from free and fair.

Tsvangirai to launch MDC election campaign
MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai will this Saturday launch his party’s election campaign programme and manifesto at Sakubva stadium in Mutare. Party spokesman Nelson Chamisa said they expect a bumper crowd.
Tsvangirai will launch his presidential campaign programme and those for the parliamentary and council elections.

Shortages worsen as ZANU-PF diverts resources to elections
As much as Zimbabweans would like their hardships to disappear when they cast their vote at the ballot box on March 29, it is the elections themselves that are now making the daily struggles even worse. The ruling party is diverting basic goods, already in short supply, to it’s election campaigns.
Much needed supplies of mealie-meal and fuel were reportedly used by ZANU-PF candidates during the primaries.

Four candidates to contest the presidential race
A 4th presidential candidate last week filed his nomination papers, Mr. Langton Toungana. But no one seem to know who Toungana is or which party he represents. So far he has not held a press conference or presented his election manifesto. But some analysts believe his entry into mainstream politics is a CIO plot, aimed at trying to dilute the opposition vote.

5 Zimbabwean refugees dead, 36 injured in SA border accident
The Zimbabwe Exiles Forum in South Africa reports that the accident occurred between Musina and Beitbridge and involved a South African Department of Home Affairs truck, carrying refugees that had been caught without papers. The 36 injured were admitted at a hospital in Musina. Most were treated and released, except for 6 women and two children who are still in hospital.

Mugabe, Tsvangirai & Makoni submit papers for presidential race
On Friday Arthur Mutambara held a press conference and said his MDC faction was going into an alliance with Simba Makoni and so he was no longer planning to stand as a presidential candidate as he was rallying behind Makoni. But ten minutes later after filing his papers, Makoni briefed journalists and said he had no intention of going into an alliance with anyone.

Bulawayo nomination court extended by 2 hours
Courts were scheduled to close at 4 pm but the deadline was extended by a High Court judge, after a lawyer for Eddie Cross of the Tsvangirai MDC successfully filed papers seeking an extension. Cross is a parliamentary candidate for Bulawayo South. He had earlier been disqualified for reasons not made public. The final list will show whether his application was successful. There was no electricity in the courtroom that served as registration headquarters for Matabeleland province.

Students & WOZA beaten and arrested at Wednesday demos
Riot police used violence to break up peaceful and separate demos by students and Woza in Bulawayo & Harare. Student leaders were briefly detained in both cities and were brutalised by police in custody. The Bulawayo group included Privilege Mutanga from ZINASU, who is 9 months pregnant. She suffered a broken hand and a twisted ankle. ZINASU Secretary General Lovemore Chinoputsa, President Clever Bere and NUST Secretary General Isheunesu Nyoni were among the students who were detained.

Zimbabwean newspaper claims Makoni was part of Mbeki plot
The Zimbabwean newspaper says South African President Thabo Mbeki is supportive of Simba Makoni’s bid to run for president. Editor Wilf Mbanga said their reporter picked up the story in South Africa and confirmed it with officials from Mbeki’s government. He says they have also run it by Makoni’s people who confirm Mbeki had hoped for a change of leadership within Zanu PF at their special congress in December.

Tsvangirai blasts Makoni at press conference in South Africa
MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai was in South Africa Wednesday where he addressed international correspondents about the March 29th elections. Tsvangirai revealed that on February 23rd the MDC would unveil their election manifesto and the party’s plans to reverse Zimbabwe’s decline. Journalist and writer Geoff Hill said Tsvangirai welcomed Makoni to the ranks of the opposition and reminded him that opposition leaders in Zimbabwe face arrest, beatings, teargas and treason trials.

Makoni launches his ‘vision’ for Zimbabwe
Former finance minister Simba Makoni on Wednesday launched his campaign manifesto by pledging to undertake urgent tasks to resolve the food, power, fuel, water and sanitation problems affecting the country. He promised to deal with the black market by removing ‘distortions’ in the economy and restoring the autonomy of the central bank as a regulator free from political interference.

Zanu PF formally expel Makoni
The ruling Zanu PF party has formally expelled former finance minister Simba Makoni over his decision to stand as a presidential candidate in the election. Nathan Shamuyarira told a press conference that Makoni would remain banished from the party even if he made a u-turn and did not file his nomination papers this week. Shamuyarira added that the expulsion was due to the attitude shown by Makoni towards the party and their president.

Thousands rush to check voters’ roll as deadline looms
People are rushing to meet Thursday’s deadline to register to vote in next month’s election, amid reports that many registered voters have had their names deleted from the voters’ roll. A survey carried out by our Harare correspondent in Kuwadzana constituency in the capital revealed that 5 out of 10 people who checked the voters roll, found out that their names had been deleted after registering to vote last year.

Tsvangirai going it alone as Mutambara-Makoni join forces
The founding President of the MDC, Morgan Tsvangirai, has said his faction will fight next month’s election alone, dismissing reports of an impending alliance with Simba Makoni. He said it would be impossible to work with someone who has declared that he’s still Zanu-PF.

Civil society groups snub Makoni presidential bid
Former finance minister Simba Makoni is struggling to win the backing of civil society groups who at the weekend distanced themselves from his presidential bid. Over 5000 delegates from various organisations met for the National Peoples Convention in Harare. The general sentiment from the speeches reflected a deep distrust for Makoni and his camp.

Influential former army generals ready to campaign for Makoni
Retired army generals Solomon Mujuru and Vitalis Zvinavashe are reportedly going to campaign for independent presidential candidate Simba Makoni, in a bid to oust Mugabe from power. A source close to Zvinavashe, the Zimbabwe Defence Forces’ second commander after Mujuru, told us he was ready to throw his full weight behind Makoni.

Mbeki claims SADC talks have resolved Zim’s election dispute
South African President Thabo Mbeki on Friday claimed both Zanu PF and the MDC managed to resolve their major differences over a framework for next month’s election. Speaking during his annual state of the nation address he said the parties involved had reached full agreement on issues relating to the constitution, security, media and electoral laws. But despite the opposition reluctantly agreeing to contest the March 29th election they have described the talks as a complete failure.

Police arrest 15 WOZA members attending convention in Harare
Fifteen members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise were arrested Thursday in Harare’s Africa Unity Square, where they were passing the time due to delays checking in at the Meikles Hotel. The WOZA members hail from Bulawayo and they were in the capital for the People’s Convention. They were told to wait in the Square by hotel security, so it is not clear why riot police approached and searched their bags.

Zimbabwean civil groups urge voters in S.A. to go home and vote
In view of the fact that the Mugabe regime has refused to allow Zimbabweans in the diaspora the right to vote in the March elections, several civil organisations from Zimbabwe were in South Africa Wednesday, where they launched the “Get Out and Vote” campaign. Tando Ncube from the National Constitutional Assembly said the launch was intended to improve electoral participation by the diaspora population and by their families back home.

Election nominations, voter registration extended by a week
The government has announced that the Nomination Courts that were scheduled for Friday February 8th have been moved to Friday February 15th. This is for registration of candidates seeking to run in the elections on March 29th. Inspection of the voters’ roll and voter registration has been extended by a week with a new deadline of February 14th.

Tsvangirai endorsed as MDC presidential candidate
Morgan Tsvangirai has been endorsed as his party’s presidential candidate for next month’s general elections. Party spokesman Nelson Chamisa said a full national council, the party’s main decision-making body, unanimously endorsed Tsvangirai. Chamisa said primaries to choose parliamentary and council candidates are also almost complete. He said party structures have been selecting candidates for all the 210 constituencies up for grabs.

Simba Makoni joins presidential race
Former finance minister Simba Makoni has made a u-turn by announcing he will contest presidential elections in March. This is despite the fact that he held a private meeting with Mugabe at state house two weeks ago at which his grievances with the party were said to have been resolved. All that seems to have been cast aside after Makoni was barred from challenging Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa in Zanu PF primary elections.

Finance Minister Mumbengegwi assaulted at ZPF primaries in Chivi
We have received reports that violence broke out in the Chivi district of Masvingo during ZANU-PF primaries Saturday, leaving Samuel Mumbengegwi injured and in hospital. Our correspondent Simon Muchemwa spoke to sources in the area at the time who said Mumbengegwi was blocked from reaching the venue of the primaries by angry villagers who complained that he only came around just before elections.

Split MDC to participate in March elections
After several urgent meetings aimed at re-uniting the two formations of the MDC, leaders from the opposition announced Sunday that they will be presenting separate candidates to compete against Mugabe and ZANU-PF in the harmonized elections set for March 29th. This means Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara will contest as separate presidential candidates and both parties will also field their own candidates for parliament.

Kunonga barricades cathedral to disrupt ceremony
Thugs hired by ousted Bishop of Harare Nolbert Kunonga, barricaded the main cathedral Sunday in an attempt to stop a ceremony ushering in the new Bishop. The Church of the Province of Central Africa replaced Kunonga with Bishop Sebastian Bakare, after the controversial Mugabe supporter withdrew the diocese from the main church. Kunonga has since been waging a defiance campaign with his small group of violent supporters disrupting church services around Harare.

Political violence breaks out in Manicaland
With just 56 days to go before elections political violence has erupted in Manicaland province. Last Sunday 3 MDC activists were assaulted for walking near a Zanu PF rally. Cadwell, Frank and Justice Chaguma, fought back and in the skirmish Zanu PF official Clarkson Buwerimwe pulled out a gun. Frank Chaguma immediately disarmed him and the three brothers took the gun to Marange police post.

Police stop MDC freedom marches in Mutare and Rusape
Police in Mutare and Rusape have stopped the MDC ‘freedom’ marches, in which the opposition is demanding a new constitution and free and fair elections. On Thursday police chiefs in Mutare issued a prohibition order barring the marches. The MDC filed a court challenge but the magistrate ruled that protesters could not march to the city centre and should move to a venue outside town where their leaders could address them.

Coup suspect Simon Mann extradited to Equatorial Guinea
The British mercenary who was serving time in Zimbabwe for attempting to buy illegal weapons at Harare airport in 2004, is reported to have been extradited to Equatorial Guinea early Thursday morning. The 55 year old former British soldier lost an appeal on Wednesday against extradition to the oil-rich West African country. Journalist Peta Thornycroft said lawyer Jonathan Samkange visited the prison on Thursday, only to be told Mann had been taken away by the police.