Mugabe’s nephew vows to reinvade Lake Chivero
Robert Mugabe’s nephew, Patrick Zhuwao, has vowed to re-invade the Lake Chivero resort, claiming responsibility for the invasion of the property earlier this month.

Ncube could fire Mutambara to gain DPM post
An analyst has said that Welshman Ncube could still become Deputy Prime Minister if he fires former MDC-M leader Arthur Mutambara from the party, after Mugabe stressed this weekend that Mutamabara can remain DPM as long as he wants to.

Mutambara still to comment over his re-call from government
Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara is yet to comment on his recall from government, two weeks after he was ousted as president of his party. A senior member of the MDC-N, elected at the recently held congress in Harare, said there is no need for the robotics professor to respond to his re-calling by the party.

More than 1,400 workers laid off at central bank
The state run Herald newspaper reported Friday that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe had laid off three-quarters of its workforce, in a move to cut costs. The Herald described it as the single largest retrenchment in the country since independence and said it will cost the RBZ $70 million.

Traditional leaders force villagers to sign anti-sanctions petition
Reports that villagers in remote areas of Zimbabwe are being forced to sign a ZANU PF ‘anti-sanctions petition’ intensified this week as it emerged that traditional leaders and soldiers are being used to run the campaign.

Court rules that SABC manipulated Zim news
A South African court has ruled that the country’s national broadcaster unlawfully manipulated news items on Zimbabwe and deliberately blacklisted commentators deemed critical of Mugabe.

Lawyer says police took part in attack on MDC Mbare office
A group of 19 supporters of the MDC-T, arrested Saturday after ZANU PF youths attacked the MDC-T office in Mbare, were granted free bail and released on Wednesday.

Calls for Zimbabwe to adopt Biometric voters’ registration
Political commentators and Civil Society Organizations on Wednesday backed the MDC-T’s call for Zimbabwe to adopt a new voters’ roll, as a prerequisite for the forthcoming elections.

200 MDC seek refuge from ZANU PF militia in Mbare
Two hundred MDC-T members were forced to seek refuge at their party’s Harare headquarters after ZANU-PF youth hunted them down in Mbare over the weekend.

COPAC main computer hacked into
The Constitutional Parliamentary Select Committee is allegedly embroiled in a new crisis, with a source saying that the main computer server has been hacked into and important details changed and ‘distorted’.

Mutambara demoted to make way for Ncube
Two weeks after saying Arthur Mutambara would continue to be Deputy Prime Minister, Welshman Ncube has announced he is now the new deputy premier, having taken over from the man he toppled as party leader.

Tourist spots under threat in new land invasions
Tourist resorts look set to be the latest targets of unlawful land seizures across Zimbabwe, after the popular Lake Chivero Recreational Park was invaded over the weekend.

Civil servants to meet over strike action next week
Zimbabwe’s civil servants are set to meet next week to decide when they will embark on national strike action, after a meeting with the government on Thursday collapsed with no agreement on salaries. Civil servants and government representatives met to see if the threatened strike could be averted.

Fuel queues and price increases hit southwest Zimbabwe
The energy minister, Elton Mangoma, this week revealed that the National Oil Company of Zimbabwe had no money to import fuel, after long queues and price increases hit parts of the country recently. Mangoma explained that the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority had raided US$35 million from NOCZIM accounts due to unpaid debts.

Zuma requests GPA articles specific to holding elections
President Jacob Zuma has asked party negotiators in Harare to provide him with provisions in the GPA that have a bearing on holding elections in Zimbabwe.

Mashaba Housing warns Gweru employees to support ZANU PF
Workers at the Mashaba Housing Project in Gweru have reportedly been warned that they will lose their jobs if they do not support ZANU PF.

ZESN report says voters roll inaccurate needs serious reforms
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) launched a report on Thursday with observations from their extensive research on Zimbabwe’s voters roll.

‘Upbeat’ Tsvangirai returns to office as GPA talks continue
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Tuesday officially returned to office after his annual leave, with analysts cautiously predicting a positive year for the MDC-T leader.

Tsvangirai to stand uncontested for party leadership
Tsvangirai is set to triumph at his party’s elective congress scheduled for May, as indications from party structures suggest he will garner overwhelming support to retain the Presidency uncontested.

KP waiting on Zim to approve diamond agreement
Members of the diamond watchdog group, the Kimberley Process (KP) are said to be waiting for Zimbabwe’s approval of an amended agreement, which could potentially open the door for more diamond exports from the country.

Activist arrested as youth clash over ‘spies’ in Bulawayo
An MDC-T activist has been arrested in Bulawayo after a clash with a suspected ZANU PF spy, who was apparently trying to infiltrate the party ahead of its Congress.

Civil servants & government set to try avert crippling strike
Disgruntled civil servants will this week Thursday meet government representatives to see if a planned strike over salaries can be averted.

Soldiers ‘ban’ Masvingo weekly newspaper in Gutu
Media watchdog group MISA-Zimbabwe on Tuesday expressed concern that soldiers banned vendors from selling an independent newspaper last week, amid growing concerns that the media is once again facing a strict clamp down.

Mnangagwa tells CEOs denounce sanctions or lose companies
The heads of foreign firms could be forced to go on radio to publicly denounce western targeted sanctions imposed on Robert Mugabe, or face losing 90% of their company shareholding, Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa is reported to have announced this weekend.

Zim diamond decision expected this week
A decision on whether Zimbabwe will be allowed to resume full diamond exports is expected this week, amid reports that the Mines Ministry is going ahead with two auctions soon.

MDC says violence, arrests and abductions on the rise
The MDC-T released a statement on Friday detailing a series of recent incidents of violence, illegal arrests and abductions of party officials and supporters around the country. The shocking list showed a sharp increase in politically motivated incidents, especially in rural areas.

SADC court says Zim government undermining rule of law
The human rights Tribunal of the Southern African region has ruled that the Zimbabwe government is undermining the rule of law, by refusing to pay compensation to nine victims of state sponsored political violence and torture.

MISA says new journalist fees ‘not legally binding’
The Zimbabwe chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa said this week that recently increased journalist fees, which have sparked fears of a media clampdown, “are not legally binding.” The government has quadrupled registration and accreditation fees for Zimbabwean journalists working for international media houses. The new fees were announced by the Minister of Media, Information and Publicity Webster Shamu who has since distanced himself from the exorbitant fee increase.

MDC-T councillors in Victoria Falls slam ‘treacherous’ Mayor
Fuming MDC-T councilors in Victoria Falls have slammed the ‘treacherous behaviour’ of the Mayor, Nkosilathi Jiyane, for pursuing personal interests at the expense of residents in the resort town. Jiyane, elected into council on an MDC-T ticket in 2008, defected from the party over the weekend citing “too much interference in his duties and persecution by party officials.”

Police in renewed crackdown against MDC officials
Police have in the last week intensified their crackdown on MDC officials and activists, amid fears it may be the beginning of a new wave of political arrests and harassment this year.

Chamisa says MDC unity deal possible
A spokesman for the MDC led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has not ruled out chances of a unity deal with the faction led by the newly elected Welshman Ncube.

City councillors condemn destruction of maize in Harare
The MDC has lashed out at orders to destroy maize in Harare, with city councillors distancing themselves from the ‘barbaric’ act.

MDC mayors and council chairpersons declare ‘war’ on Chombo
The MDC-T, which has for years been on a collision course with Local Government Minister Ignatious Chombo, has vowed to hit back at his ‘ceaseless bullying’ and firing of its elected councillors and Mayors.

Giant screen ‘suffocating’ Zimbabweans with propaganda
The presence of a giant TV screen in the centre of Harare, which broadcasts ZBC programmes and ZANU PF jingles throughout, is a strong indication that Zimbabweans have no escape from one-sided views both at home and outside, a media expert has warned.

Still no decision on Zimbabwe diamond trade future
The international diamond trade watchdog, the Kimberley Process (KP) is still to make a decision on Zimbabwe’s trade future, after the deadline to discuss a proposed agreement was extended until next week.

COPAC teams begin working on new constitution
The formal process of compiling data collected from the constitutional outreach program started on Monday with over 70 technicians and 210 rapporteurs gathering in Harare for the two week exercise. The Parliamentary Select Committee (COPAC) has set September 30 as the date to hold a referendum to choose a new constitution for Zimbabwe.

Ncube will still need Mugabe to replace Mutambara as DPM
Welshman Ncube may now need to work closely with Robert Mugabe to remove Arthur Mutambara from representing his party in the inclusive government in the near future, a constitutional expert has said. This weekend Ncube successfully took over from Mutbamara as head of the MDC-M, and his next conquest could be an official position in the IG.

Zimbabwe man recovering after beating in SA
A Zimbabwean man who was severely beaten at his country's consulate in Cape Town last week, is recovering from his injuries, and has laid assault charges against the consulate's head of security.

CIO brutally assault MDC activist on Christmas Eve
While the rest of the country was preparing to celebrate Christmas, thugs from the notorious Central Intelligence Organisation brutally beat up an MDC activist in Chiredzi South.

MDC-T warns foreign embassies after Libya donates to ZANU PF
On Thursday the MDC-T released a strongly worded statement warning foreign embassies in the country to stop providing funds and resources that ZANU PF is using to boost its support base.

Zim to side with AU over Ivory Coast leadership crisis
Zimbabwe will follow the African Union’s lead on how to handle the turbulent leadership crisis in the Ivory Coast, after an envoy from the country’s strongman Laurent Gbagbo failed to get the desired support from Robert Mugabe this week.

Charles Davy threatens to sue Zimbabwean website
Controversial commercial farmer Charles Davy has threatened to sue a Zimbabwean website for publishing a story accusing him of ‘aiding and abetting’ the ZANU PF regime. Davy is father to Chelsy, the ex-girlfriend of British Prince Harry. The website in question Zimdiaspora.com published a story saying while most white farmers were scurrying for cover from marauding ZANU PF youths, Davy was enjoying himself at Matetsi Wildlife Enterprises.

Welshman Ncube all set to become MDC-M President
MDC-M Secretary General Welshman Ncube and his supporters are preparing to celebrate an expected victory for leadership of the party, amid reports he will stand unchallenged for the party presidency on Saturday.
The Ncube camp has already lined up a number of parties and ordered huge stocks of beer for planned victory celebrations.

Chinamasa’s electoral law changes against SADC guidelines
Proposed changes to the electoral laws in Zimbabwe go against Southern African Development Community guidelines on holding free and fair elections, SW Radio Africa learnt on Thursday. Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa has proposed to ban civic participation in voter education as well as punish those who announce election results before they are announced by an election officer.

Kimberley Process denies clearing Zim diamond sales
The international diamond watchdog, the Kimberley Process, has reportedly denied giving Zimbabwe permission to carry on selling diamonds from the controversial Chiadzwa fields. According to the news service for the US based Rapaport Diamond Trading Network, a KP representative has refuted the claims made by Mines and Mining Development Deputy Minister Gift Chimanikire.

Chinamasa’s electoral law proposals likely to hit brick wall
Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa’s proposed changes to the electoral laws are likely to hit a brick wall, following suspicions that the new set of rules will only benefit ZANU PF. Of major concern to civil society groups is the proposal by Chinamasa to ban civic participation in voter education.

WikiLeaks are ‘harmless thunderclaps’ says Chamisa
Nelson Chamisa, a spokesman for the MDC led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has said the recent revelations by the WikiLeaks website are nothing more than ‘harmless thunderclaps’ and that ordinary Zimbabweans are actually more worried about the ‘leaks in their roofs’ during the rainy season.

Mashonaland delegates threaten to boycott MDC-M congress
Sharp differences have surfaced in the MDC-M over the party’s decision to sideline incumbent President Arthur Mutambara from seeking re-election. The party’s hardliners from the three Mashonaland provinces have declared that the move against Mutambara is a ‘coup’ and are reportedly going to revolt during the congress.

Zim stops issuing passports
Zimbabwe has indefinitely stopped issuing birth certificates, identity cards and passports after a fire at the Registrar General’s office in Harare last week, which has damaged key electrical systems. Registrar General Tobaiwa Mudede said electronic systems had been disrupted in the fire on New Year’s Eve.

WOZA plans meeting with Makone after new legal victory
Fresh from a court victory in which scores of their members were removed from remand, Women of Zimbabwe Arise are now seeking an audience with Theresa Makone, the Co-Minister of Home Affairs, to present their grievances over the police misconduct. On Monday, the Harare Magistrate’s court ruled that 83 WOZA members should be removed from remand.

Mugabe under pressure to accept election delay
Robert Mugabe’s hopes of having a parliamentary election by June this year could be dashed, following reports that Zimbabwe is likely to postpone the poll in order to make constitutional reforms first.

Mutambara’s fate to be decided by party’s standing committee
Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara’s position in government will only be decided by a new standing committee that will be elected into office during the party’s congress on Saturday.