Suspended Mutambara MDC MP’s to face weekend hearings
Five MP’s from the Mutambara MDC are due to appear before a disciplinary committee this weekend. Abednico Bhebhe, Norman Mpofu and Njabuliso Mguni were suspended from the party several months ago on charges of campaigning for the main wing of the Tsvangirai MDC.

Zimbabwe to receive almost a billion dollars in credit from China
Prime Minister Tsvangirai announced on Tuesday that the government has managed to secure US$950 million in credit lines from China. Briefing journalists and diplomats in Harare, Tsvangirai said during his recent tour to Europe and the United States he also managed to raise over $US500 million, to go towards the provision of health and education.

Mugabe to take centre stage on food security at AU summit
Robert Mugabe is set to take centre stage at the African Union Summit of heads of state this week where he will, ironically, be speaking about food security, despite Zimbabwe being the most food-aid dependent country in the world. The summit of African leaders, which is set to get underway in Libya on Wednesday, is gathering under the theme: ‘Investing in Agriculture for Economic Growth and Food Security.’

MDC boycott cabinet meeting
Despite claims by Prime Minister Tsvangirai that things are running smoothly between the MDC and ZANU PF, more cracks emerged Monday, exposing serious divisions. MDC Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe issued a blistering statement explaining why her party boycotted a Cabinet meeting, which had been unilaterally brought forward by Mugabe from Tuesday, to Monday, as Mugabe would be traveling. Khupe said the decision by Mugabe reflected disrespect, contempt and a refusal to recognise the letter and spirit of the Global Political Agreement.

Truth of diamond murders threatened as MDC MP jailed
An MDC MP who was set to reveal the truth about the mass murders in the Marange diamond fields last year, was this weekend jailed for seven years, on trumped-up charges. Shuah Mudiwa, whose Mutare West constituency covers the Marange diamond fields where the killings occurred, was expected to disclose details of the massacre that took place there to a delegation from the Kimberley Process, a certification scheme aimed at preventing the sale of conflict diamonds.

Tsvangirai back home after three-week visit to Europe & USA
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai arrived home Monday after a three week visit to’ re-engage’ with the international community. His spokesman, James Maridadi, said that during the tour the Prime Minister raised over $US200 million, which will go towards basic services such as health and education – but this is an amount far short of the estimated US$8 billion needed to rebuild the country.

Attorney General to ‘formally’ charge Biti with treason
There are reports that the Attorney General is ready to formally charge Finance Minister Tendai Biti with treason, and to also arrest Economic Planning Minister Elton Mangoma on kidnapping charges. A highly placed source in the MDC said that AG Tomana has already crafted the indictment charge sheet.

MDC Director-General freed on bail
The MDC’s Director-General,Toendepi Shonhe, was finally released on bail by High Court Justice Felistas Chatukuta on Friday. Shonhe was arrested last Tuesday on allegations of perjury and had been granted bail last Thursday, but remained in remand prison after the Attorney General’s office blocked his bail.

Mugabe hints at bringing back Zimbabwe dollar
On Friday Mugabe said he wanted to bring back the Zim dollar, in place of the current system of multiple currencies. He said dollarization had failed to help ordinary people, who did not have access to forex. The Zim Dollar was dropped 4 months ago because it had become worthless after years of economic decay and corruption.

State concedes Mukoko’s abduction was illegal
A state prosecutor on Thursday conceded that the way human rights campaigner Jestina Mukoko was abducted by state security agents, was illegal. The former news reader has taken her case to the Supreme Court, seeking a permanent stay of her prosecution.

Gov urged to reveal truth about Chiadzwa diamond murders
The government has been urged to reveal the truth about the mass murders at the Chiadzwa diamond fields, after an MDC minister this week denied that any killings had taken place. There have been widespread accounts from survivors and human rights groups about brutal killings, severe rights abuses and even mass graves at the eastern Marange diamond fields, after the army moved in last October to disperse thousands of illegal diamond hunters.

Tsvangirai in France on last leg of three week tour
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is in Paris, France appealing for investment and political support, but was told the unity government isn’t moving fast enough towards reform. Reports said the French Foreign Minister met Tsvangirai Thursday and reminded him of the need to respect human rights, to have a free media and to respect property rights.

ZANU PF & MDC headed for clash on new constitution
The MDC and ZANU PF are heading for a potential clash over the framework for a new constitution. Mugabe has told his ZANU PF Central Committee that the inclusive government will come up with a new constitution, in line with the widely criticized Kariba Draft document. But the MDC issued a statement saying they will reject any attempts to have this draft adopted as a roadmap, saying it wants a people-driven process.

Media hangman Charamba crafts new regulation laws
Concern is being raised over the future of media freedom as two new media laws, which are set to replace the controversial Access to Information and Privacy Act, are said to be the brainchild of media ‘hangman’ George Charamba. The proposed laws are currently being crafted and will be placed before Parliament for adoption.

MDC Minister denies mass killings in Chiadzwa diamond fields
Deputy Mining Minister Murisi Zwizwai has denied there were any killings in the Marange diamond fields last year, when speaking to a meeting of the Kimberley Process, the international scheme to curb the sale of ‘blood diamonds’. He said the claims were a result of ‘unsubstantiated reports’.

Amnesty to monitor Zim human rights crisis
Human rights organisation Amnesty International says it will closely monitor the human rights situation for the next 100 days, to test the commitment of the unity government to real reforms in the country. Amnesty’s Secretary General, Irene Khan, met with Prime Minister Tsvangirai in the UK on Monday, after wrapping up a six-day visit to Zimbabwe last Thursday.

Mines Minister Obert Mpofu denied UK visa
The British Embassy in Harare has refused to grant a travel visa to Mines Minister Obert Mpofu, to attend an investment conference in London. The ZANU PF MP is one of a number of senior party officials under targeted financial and travel restrictions, initiated in response to gross human rights violations by Mugabe’s regime. The embassy does not traditionally comment on visa issues and it was left to the state owned media to run the story.

SADC summit has ignored MDC unity government complaints
SADC held an extraordinary summit in South Africa on Saturday at which the outstanding issues in Zimbabwe’s unity government were ignored. Despite the MDC saying they referred the remaining disputes over the appointment of Central Bank governor Gideon Gono and Attorney General Johannes Tomana to the group, SADC met and only dealt with the political crisis in Madagascar.

Zim UK exiles show they’re not happy with the unity government
Prime Minister Tsvangirai came face to face with disgruntled elements of Zimbabwean society in the UK when he urged the Diaspora community to go back home where there was now “peace and stability.” Hecklers drowned out the rest of Tsvangirai’s speech and blocked attempts by Finance Minister Tendai Biti to rescue the disastrous situation that unfolded in London on Saturday, forcing Tsvangirai to abort his speech.

MDC abductees granted referral to Supreme Court
Four MDC activists facing charges of terrorism are allowed to challenge their prosecution in the Supreme Court, after a ruling Monday by High Court Justice Tendai Uchena. The defence team filed an application when the trial of the abductees started earlier this month, asking the High Court to refer the case of their clients to the Constitutional Court as their rights had been violated.

Clash looms over Prime Minister’s newsletter
A glossy free newsletter, published by Prime MinisterTsvangirai’s office last Wednesday, and meant to counter negative publicity from the state owned media, has unnerved officials within ZANU PF. The state owned Sunday Mail newspaper quoted Ministry of Information permanent secretary George Charamba saying they had seen the publication and its circulation figures and are looking at what the law says in relation to it.

Magistrate & prosecutor fail to turn up for Shonhe hearing
A Harare magistrate and prosecutor did not turn up for the hearing of jailed MDC Director-General Toendepi Shonhe on Friday, because they said they had to attend a mental health seminar. The MDC senior employee, who was arrested on Tuesday and granted bail Thursday, remains in prison after the State blocked his bail.

Beaten WOZA members released on bail
Four members of the pressure group Women of Zimbabwe Arise, who were beaten and arrested in Harare on Thursday, have been released on bail after being locked up overnight. The four were denied medical treatment despite injuries received at the hands of the police, who launched a vicious attack on protesting WOZA members in the capital.

Media pressure group says commission should be temporary
Friday was the deadline for applicants wanting to sit on the proposed Zimbabwe Media Commission, which is due to replace the now defunct Media and Information Commission. It’s reported the number of applications was ‘overwhelming’ but no names of the applicants have been released.

Tsvangirai to address Zimbabweans in London Saturday
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is expected to address thousands of Zimbabweans at Southwark Cathedral in London on Saturday.

Journalist among arrested group, as police crackdown on WOZA
A journalist, in Harare for a press conference by rights organisation Amnesty International, was arrested along with a group of protesting members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise after police launched a brutal crackdown on the peaceful demonstration on Thursday. The WOZA members were marching through the capital as part of the group’s traditional commemoration of International Refugee Day on Friday.

MDC Director General granted bail, but remains in police custody
Toendepi Shonhe, the MDC Director General, who was arrested on allegations of perjury on Tuesday, was granted bail by a Harare magistrate on Thursday. But he remains in police custody as the State immediately opposed the magistrate’s ruling by invoked Section 121 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act, which suspends a bail order for seven days.

WOZA members beaten & arrested during peaceful demo
A peaceful march by members of the pressure group Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise ended in chaos in Bulawayo Wednesday, after the group came under attack by police. The march consisted of four different groups marching simultaneously from various points across Bulawayo, all set to converge outside the offices of the state-owned Chronicle newspaper.

ZANU PF youths set up militia ‘bases’ in schools
ZANU PF youths have set up bases in at least two schools in the Zvimba West constituency in Mashonaland West. The province’s MDC chairman Jephat Karemba said that up to 20 youths in each school, wearing ZANU PF regalia, have set up base. There are fears among the teachers that violence could flare up at any time.

MDC Director-General Shonhe arrested
The MDC Director General, Toendepi Shonhe was arrested Tuesday by the police on a charge of perjury. The MDC CEO is accused of having lied under oath when he swore to an affidavit that three members of the MDC had been re-abducted by State security agents. MDC Director of Information Luke Tamborinyoka says these are trumped up charges.

Tsvangirai addresses Swedish parliament
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai capped off a busy two day visit to Sweden on Tuesday by addressing the Swedish parliament in Stockholm.

Obama praises Tsvangirai’s fight for freedom
On Friday, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai became the second African leader to meet Barack Obama since he moved into the White House. Analysts say many world leaders would cherish the opportunity to be in the Oval office with Obama and the world media. President Obama acknowledged Tsvangirai’s fight for freedom in a profound way last Friday by giving him a personalised autographed copy of ‘Stride Toward Freedom’ by Dr. Martin Luther King.

Tsvangirai holds talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel
The German government on Monday pledged close to 30 million euros to Zimbabwe to be used to improve the education, health and farming sectors. The pledge followed a meeting between the Chancellor and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai in Berlin, where the German government assured him of its full support for his pro-democracy work in Zimbabwe. Tsvangirai arrived in Berlin on Sunday from Washington and before Monday’s talks he was received with full military honours.

Chegutu farmer denies verbal abuse of PM’s ‘niece’
The Cremer family has categorically denied allegations that they used racially abusive words against the family of the woman attempting to take their farm. On Wednesday Dr Chihombori, who said she is Prime Minister Tsvangirai’s niece, said her sister and a lands officer were extremely abused by the Cremer family when they went to the farm with an offer letter.

SADC ruling ignored again as farmers fight to keep their land
A ruling by the human rights court of the Southern African Development Community to put a stop to the current wave of farm attacks, is being openly ignored once again and farmers are still fighting to keep their land.

Finance Minister Biti to address World Economic Forum
Finance Minister Tendai Biti will address the World Economic Forum in South Africa on Friday. He is expected to use his speech to make an appeal for financial aid to fund the coalition governments ‘Short Term Emergency Recovery Programme’. Biti will be part of a panel that includes Deputy South African President Kgalema Motlanthe and Kingdom Meikles Africa group CEO Nigel Chanakira.

Tsvangirai holds meetings with IMF and World Bank in Washington
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has held high level meetings with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, in the build-up to his Friday meeting with US President Barack Obama. James Maridadi, Tsvangirai’s spokesman, said the Prime Minister is trying to establish ways of re-engagement with members of the international community.

Prime Minister’s ‘niece’ speaks about Chegutu farm invasion
Dr. Arikana Chihombori, the woman related to Morgan Tsvangirai and accused of attempting to invade a Chegutu farm, has spoken for the first time. The US medical doctor told SW Radio Africa that she was indeed related to Prime Minister Tsvangirai and said she was given an offer letter to ‘take over’ part of the Cremer farm in Chegutu. She said she is Zimbabwean and has a right to land and was given an offer letter because she had proven she had the resources to take up farming.

Journalists sue Minister for contempt of court over accreditation
Four journalists who were barred from covering the COMESA summit at the weekend will sue Information Minister Webster Shamu and his permanent secretary George Charamba, for contempt of court. This follows Friday’s ruling by High Court Judge Bharat Patel that the Media and Information Commission was a defunct body and no journalist was required to register with it. But as the journalists found out on Sunday, High Court orders are just pieces of paper in Zimbabwe’s law of the jungle.

MDC source denies that land invader is Tsvangirai relative
Dr. Arikana Chihombori, the ‘mystery woman’ seen with the Prime Minister at South African President Jacob Zuma’s inauguration last month, is reported to be trying to seize a Chegutu farm owned by the Cremer family. At the time of the discussions around who it was with Tsvangirai in South Africa , the Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement identifying the woman as his niece.

Tsvangirai in Washington for 2 nd leg of tour
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai arrived in Washington late Monday for a 5 day visit that will culminate in a meeting with the US President Obama at the Oval office. Tsvangirai’ spokesman, James Maridadi, told us from Washington that the Prime Minister has a busy schedule ahead of his meeting with the US President at the White House on Friday.

Journalists barred from Comesa summit despite High Court order
Four journalists, who last week won a landmark case against the government over the legality of the Media and Information Commission, were this weekend barred from covering the Comesa summit, for not being accredited. High Court Judge Bharat Patel on Friday ruled that the media commission no longer existed and no journalist was legally required to register with it.

Journalists arrested & assaulted for covering demo
The Zimbabwe Union of Journalist reports that two of its members were arrested and assaulted by police for covering a demonstration last Friday. Chris Mahove, a senior reporter with The Worker– a newspaper run by the Zimbabwe Congress Trade Unions – was arrested while covering a demonstration by the Harare City Council Workers’ Union.

Tsvangirai begins 8 nation tour to re-engage with the West
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai began his eight nation tour of Europe and the United States on Sunday, by visiting the Netherlands. His three-week state visit will take him to France, Sweden, Britain, Belgium, Germany, Denmark and the US.

Prime Minister Tsvangirai expected to meet Barack Obama
Mr. Tsvangirai is set to leave Zimbabwe on Saturday for his inaugural overseas tour to the USA and parts of Europe and Scandinavia. It’s reported that the Prime Minister will meet US President Obama and other leaders in Europe.

Another farming family evicted as invasions continue
Yet another farming family in Chegutu have been forced to turn their backs on their land and livelihood, after being forcibly and illegally evicted in the name of so called land reform.

Journalists win landmark case against government
Four Harare based journalists on Friday won an historic court case against the government after they challenged the legal status of the Media and Information Commission.

Journalists take government to court over accreditation
Four Harare based journalists on Thursday took the government to court, challenging the legal status of the Media and Information Commission The Information Ministry last week said all journalists wishing to cover the COMESA summit in Victoria Falls, had to be accredited by the commission.

Deported Kwekwe mine owner narrates abduction ordeal
Lee Johns, an Australian businessman who has lived in Zimbabwe for over 12 years, was deported last month after winning a US$1 million claim against the Reserve Bank for unpaid rentals. In an exclusive interview on our Behind the Headlines program, Johns told us he was arrested a day after the High Court granted him an interdict against the bank.

Zuma faces criticism for not taking tough stance on Zimbabwe
South African President Jacob Zuma is already facing criticism for not taking a hard line with Robert Mugabe in his State of the Nation address on Wednesday. Analysts are already criticising Zuma’s speech for failing to inspire hope that he can set South Africa on a new, positive course and the public address focused almost entirely on domestic issues, with only passing mention being given to the crisis across the border in Zimbabwe.

ZANU PF officials expected to join Tsvangirai on US & EU tour
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is embarking on a 3 week trip to the United States, Europe and Scandinavia, next week. The tour is part of his 100 day plan to re-engage with the international community after years of isolation.

Army units deployed in rural areas last year, are still there
Over 200 senior army officers, deployed countrywide to help secure the violent re-election of Mugabe in last year’s one-man presidential run-off, are still deployed in the villages. The MDC raised their concern in a statement issued after their 9th annual conference over the weekend.

ZANU PF official harassed for supporting farmer
A senior ZANU PF official has found herself on the receiving end of state sponsored intimidation, after testifying in court in support of a commercial farmer. Celina Pote, a ZANU PF politburo member and the former legislator for Chiredzi North, has been called in as a defence witness in a case against Chiredzi farmer Digby Nesbit – who is being charged with being on his land illegally.

SADC will not convene full summit to discuss issues in GPA
SADC will not convene a full, extraordinary summit, to tackle the outstanding issues plaguing the unity government, according to Tomaz Salomao, the secretary-general of the regional bloc. Salomao would not elaborate as to why SADC would not do this, or how the issue was going to be dealt with.

ZANU PF governor’s son arrested for killing MDC activist
On Tuesday the MDC announced that 5 ZANU PF supporters, including the son of a governor and two soldiers, had been arrested in connection with the murder of an MDC Gokwe district organising secretary. The politically motivated murder took place in March, a month after the political parties had formed the unity government.

Zimbabwe considers making the Rand the official currency
Finance Minister Tendai Biti says the government is weighing up the prospect of using the South African Rand as the official currency, permanently. With the death of the Zimbabwe dollar Biti says they are exploring 3 different options, including the Rand, bringing back a redenominated Zim Dollar or sticking with the current multiple currency system. He said a decision will be made by the end of the year.

MDC calls for urgent SADC summit
The MDC used a national conference over the weekend to call on SADC to convene an immediate extraordinary summit, to tackle the outstanding issues plaguing the coalition government. Over 1000 party delegates converged on Harare for the first national conference since the MDC entered into the shaky coalition government with ZANU PF.

Tsvangirai concerned about delay in implementing GPA issues
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is reported to be deeply concerned with the delay in implementing the issues agreed to in the Global Political Agreement. His spokesman, James Maridadi, said the Prime Minister was expected to meet Mugabe on Monday for their weekly meeting and would again raise these issues.

Court frees lawyer Muchadehama
Prominent human rights lawyer Alec Muchadehama was on Monday removed from remand by Harare magistrate Catherine Chimanda. The lawyer was arrested on May 15th for allegedly ‘conniving’ with Justice Bhunu’s clerk, to facilitate the release of his clients on bail - abductees Chris Dhlamini, Gandhi Mudzingwa and Shadreck Andrison - after the State had been given leave to appeal to the Supreme Court against the granting of bail.