Civil society call for urgent SADC intervention in Zim
Civil society groups have called on SADC leaders to urgently intervene in the crisis in Zimbabwe, as the regional bloc once again meets to discuss the situation.

High Court orders release of Mthwakazi duo, but not Siwela
On Thursday the High Court in Bulawayo ordered the release of two of the three Mthwakazi Liberation Front leaders, who have been illegally detained for almost a month on trumped-up treason charges.

Another new paper for Zimbabwe
Another new newspaper has been revealed in Zimbabwe, making a surprise arrival on the streets on Thursday.
Dummy copies of the paper titled ‘The Mail’ were handed out free to the public on Thursday, ahead of the paper’s official launch, set for some time next week.

Lovemore Moyo victory boosts prospects for MDC unity
For the first since the MDC split in 2005 the two resulting formations of the party on Tuesday temporarily buried their differences and united in re-electing the MDC-T’s Lovemore Moyo as Speaker of Parliament.

SADC urged to stand up to Mugabe
The Southern African Development Community is being urged to finally stand up to Mugabe, and publicly pressure the ageing leader to end worsening abuses and harassment at the hands of ZANU PF. The regional bloc’s security organ, the Troika, is meeting in Zambia from Thursday and the deteriorating Zim situation is on the agenda.

JOMIC to meet MDC victims in Chimanimani
The MDC-T in Manicaland say they have approached the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee to intervene, after more displaced villagers turned up at their head office in Mutare, seeking shelter from violent ZANU PF thugs.

MDC youths abducted in Bulawayo, found at police station
The scores of youths who were picked up by armed police officers early Monday morning in Bulawayo Central are reported to be in detention at Saucertown police station.

Lovemore Moyo wins election as Speaker of Parliament
MDC-T chairman Lovemore Moyo on Tuesday was re-elected as Speaker of Parliament, after he polled 105 votes to ZANU PF’s candidate Simon Khaya Moyo’s 93 votes.

Jonathan Moyo accused of trying to bribe MDC-T MP’s
Tuesday started off with some high political drama after the MDC-T convened a press conference at which thousands of US dollars were on display.

SADC chair says Zim unity government must stay in place
The current Chair of the Southern African Development Community, Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba, has indicated that Zims unity government must be ‘preserved’ until a credible election can take place.

MDC-T Minister Mangoma to remain behind bars
The MDC’s Deputy Treasurer General, Elton Mangoma, will remain behind bars for another week after the State ‘maliciously’ moved to block his release on bail.

Global mining shares fall on Mugabe threat
A weekend threat by Robert Mugabe to start taking over foreign owned mining firms has already created a noticeable tremble in mining markets, with analysts warning that Zimbabwe is once again pushing away any potential investors.

Ncube MDC to back MDC-T candidate for parliament speaker
The smaller faction of the MDC led by Welshman Ncube, has announced it will now support MDC-T candidate Lovemore Moyo, for Speaker of Parliament, instead of boycotting the election. The election is due to take place Tuesday.

Weekend crackdown as MDC offices raided, rally cancelled
The relentless crackdown on the MDC-T continued over the weekend, as police chanted liberation war songs and raided the party’s Harvest House offices Saturday.

Zuma to ‘assess’ Zim situation after plea from Tsvangirai
As the situation in Zimbabwe continues to deteriorate, South Africa’s President Zuma has indicated he will ‘assess’ the situation ‘soon’.

EU urged to penalise SADC over Zim crisis
Governments in Europe are again been urged to penalise countries in the Southern African Development Community, over the regional bloc’s failure to protect Zimbabweans.

MDC Home Affairs Minister Makone in hiding
The MDC-T’s co-Minister of Home Affairs, Theresa Makone, went into hiding on Friday, as the crackdown against Prime MinisterTsvangirai’s party intensifies. Makone and her MDC party believe she will be the next official to face arrest, along with at least five others.

Tsvangirai expected to meet Zuma over the weekend
Prime Minister Tsvangirai is set to meet South African President Jacob Zuma in Durban on Saturday, as part of his regional tour of SADC states.

War vets descend on Biti’s office demand increased allowances
A group of war vets is reported to have besieged the offices of Finance Minister Tendai Biti on Thursday, after he allegedly failed to meet with them earlier in the week. Their threatening presence finally got Biti to meet with their representatives and discuss their demands.

Civic groups blast ZANU PF’s careless exhumations
The exhumation exercise being carried out by ZANU PF in the Mt Darwin area has received strong criticism from civic groups, that say the rest of the country has been excluded and the careless handling of bodies is disrespectful.

Over 200 MDC flee ZANU PF attacks in Chimanimani
The MDC-T has reported that hundreds of their supporters have fled from ZANU PF sponsored violence in the Chimanimani East districts of Cashel Valley and Kubvumbura, in Manicaland province. At least 20 are being sheltered at the MDC head office in Mutare, with others seeking medical treatment at clinics.

Police lied about ZANU PF booking rallies
It has been confirmed by the Mayor of Harare that the police lied in order to block the MDC from holding a rally at the Zimbabwe Grounds in Highfield last weekend, using as an excuse the fact that ZANU PF had a block booking at the venue.

Farm attacks on the rise again
Chegutu farmer Bruce Campbell has been fighting off land invaders for several days now. Details are scarce but it is understood that a mob have been trying to force him off his property this week.

JOMIC co-chair Mushonga admits committee has no power
An admission has finally come from one of the officials heading the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee that the institution has no power to stop the deterioration of the political situation.

Mass graves raise more questions than answers
The manner in which mass graves are being ‘discovered’ and bodies exhumed from various disused mines in the country is raising more questions than it is providing answers.

Air Zim pilots strike again over salaries
The issue of salaries has once again brought Zimbabwe’s national airline to a halt, after the pilots went on strike on Tuesday. Reports said most of Air Zimbabwe’s domestic and regional flights were cancelled as pilots demanded payment of outstanding salaries and allowances.

Jonathan Moyo flip-flopping on targetted sanctions
Mugabe’s ZANU PF is in the middle of a crusade to violently force people to sign their ‘anti-sanctions’ petition. This week attention briefly turned to Tsholotsho North MP Jonathan Moyo, one of the ZANU PF strategists behind the campaign, and his hypocrisy on the matter.

Mugabe rallies behind his cornered friend, Gaddafi
On Monday Mugabe showed how much he feared intervention in Zimbabwe, by blasting western countries as ‘bloody vampires’ for imposing a ‘no fly zone’ in Libya. He said the West was interpreting the UN resolution to mean permission to bombard any places of their own choice.

Residents plan against Chombo after dismissal of councillors
Harare residents are demanding action to be taken against Local Government Minister Ignatious Chombo, for firing two councillors who were part of a committee investigating corruption claims against him.

DRC diamond chief clears Zim exports
The new chairman of the international diamond trade watchdog the Kimberley Process, has cleared Zimbabwe’s diamonds for export, amid strong protest from the US.

Zimbabweans protest against violence, new deportation order
About 200 Zimbabweans held a demonstration outside the Zim embassy in London Monday, to protest against the deteriorating political situation in Zimbabwe. They also protested at the UK government’s plans to deport failed asylum seekers to the country despite the high levels of violence.

Siwela wife hunted down by secret police
The wife of one of the jailed Mthwakazi Liberation Front leaders, Paul Siwela, says she was hunted down by the Central Intelligence Department last week. Siwela is being held with two other MLF leaders, John Gazi and Charles Thomas, who were arrested on treason charges.

Court bars MDC weekend rally
A court has upheld a decision taken by the police to bar the MDC from holding a rally in the capital, claiming the venue is too close to a ZANU PF gathering.

Activists finally freed after delays in posting bail
Former MDC MP Munyaradzi Gwisai, plus 5 other activists facing dubious treason charges, walked free from remand prisonThursday, a day after High Court Judge Samuel Kudya granted them bail.

Minister denies barring UN groups from food assessments
ZANU PF’s Agriculture Minister, Joseph Made, has denied barring aid agencies and other NGOs from participating in food assessment surveys, claming he was “misquoted.”

Jonathan Moyo’s hypocrisy exposed
Tsholotsho North MP Jonathan Moyo on Tuesday tried to whip up public sentiment against Prime Minister Tsvangirai claiming the MDC leader should be arrested, for criticizing Supreme Court judges for their shock decision in overturning the election of the MDC-T leader of parliament.

Tsvangirai meets Swazi King ahead of SADC troika meeting
Prime Minister Tsvangirai continued his tour of SADC countries, meeting with the Swazi King Mswati 3rd on Wednesday. Tsvangirai is on a diplomatic mission in the region, hoping to establish ground rules for a roadmap to elections in Zimbabwe that SADC leaders will support.

ZANU PF minister bars UN groups from food assessments
ZANU PF’s Agriculture Minister, Joseph Made, has barred international aid agencies and other NGOs from participating in food assessment surveys in Zimbabwe, claiming the groups send out ‘negative information’.

ZANU PF crackdown on activists continues
The ZANU PF led crackdown on human rights activists and NGOs has continued this week, with leading action groups coming under threat.

Tsvangirai meets Zambian and Mozambican presidents
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is in the middle of a diplomatic offensive, trying to get leaders in the SADC region to establish a roadmap for new elections, amid signs the marriage of convenience with ZANU PF has all but collapsed.

Battle for Speaker of Parliament post hots up
The battle lines are drawn for Tuesday 22 March, when legislators from all three political parties meet to elect a new speaker of parliament.

Bennett blasts Old Mutual role in blood diamonds
Exiled MDC-T Treasurer General Roy Bennett, used an investment conference in Cape Town last week to blast Old Mutual and its role in the illicit diamond mining at Marange.

Zim asylum seekers urged not to panic over UK deportations
The UK’s most senior immigration judge on Monday ruled it was safe to start deporting people back to parts of Zimbabwe. Justice Blake from the Immigration and Asylum Chamber announced a revised formal guideline for sending people back to Zimbabwe.

Gono says Mawere and the State must negotiate
Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono says the best solution for the wrangle over Shabanie Mashaba Mines is for its owner and the state to put their past differences behind them and negotiate.

Ncube wants Mutambara arrested
5 years after Welshman Ncube invited Arthur Mutambara to lead the breakaway faction of the MDC, the relationship has turned sour with Ncube now seeking Mutambara’s arrest for allegedly being in contempt of a court order.

Crisis Coalition director & more MDC members arrested
The head of a civic organisation and more MDC members were arrested over the weekend, as the attacks on activists by police worsened.

ZANU PF propped up by controversial Chinese businessman
ZANU PF is reportedly being propped up by a controversial Chinese businessman, who has been supplying the CIO with the means to keep Mugabe in power.

Mwonzora released but three MDC-T MP’s still in custody
A High Court Judge on Friday granted bail to MDC-T MP for Nyanga North, Douglas Mwonzora, plus 24 other activists, following their arrests a month ago for allegedly instigating violence.

Envoys in Zim call for respect of GPA and end to violence
The ZANU PF crackdown against the MDC and political activists has led to a statement of concern from foreign envoys in the country.

Mugabe uses Tsvangirai birthday to go for the kill
On Thursday PM Tsvangirai was meant to be celebrating his 59th birthday. But Mugabe left the day before, for a meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council, leaving behind political and legal landmines to explode on Tsvangirai’s birthday.

Police detain gravedigger assaulted by ZANU PF youth
A funeral held at Granville Cemetery in Harare Wednesday is reported to have turned into a political rally after ZANU PF youths attacked a gravedigger they accused of being an MDC-T activist.

Mangoma arrested for cutting out ZANU PF chefs from deals
Energy and Power Development Minister Elton Mangoma is paying a price for stopping corrupt ZANU PF heavyweights from benefitting from the procurement of fuel for Zimbabwe.

Bennett still unable to return to Zim
The MDC’s Treasurer General, Roy Bennett, on Thursday said he is still not able to return to Zimbabwe, despite the Supreme Court dismissing the state’s appeal against his acquittal.

Wildlife land reform policy will have negative impact on tourism
A leading wildlife expert has warned that government’s push to implement controversial wildlife based land reforms will have ‘a huge’ impact on tourism.

US warns Zimbabwe on support for Iran nuclear programme
Zim authorities received a warning Monday from the United States, over the country’s growing cooperation with Iran’s controversial nuclear programme.

Zim debt clearance resting on diamond sales
The clearing of Zimbabwe’s multi-million dollar debt could now be resting on the sale of the country’s controversial diamonds, after a pledge by Morgan Tsvangirai.

ZANU PF youths seize SA company
ZANU PF youths under the Upfumi Kuvadiki (Wealth to the Youths) group have seized Easipark, a South African company which had been contracted to manage parking and towing services in Harare.

ZCTU women protestors ordered to strip by male police
Three women who took part in a Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions protest were forced to remove their t shirts by male police in Bulawayo.

ZANU PF in ‘panic mode’ over MDC restructuring exercise
An MDC senior party official said ZANU PF has been caught flat-footed by major inroads made by the MDC-T. Morgan Komichi, the MDC-T deputy organising secretary, said the former ruling party’s response to this was to ban all political gatherings.

Release of 39 activists, but 6 held in solitary confinement
A Harare magistrate on Monday freed 39 activists, who had been detained and some of them tortured, on allegations of involvement in trying to mobilize a revolt against the government. The 39 are part of a group of 45 activists who were arrested in the capital on 19th February while participating in an academic discussion about the uprising in Egypt.

ZANU PF abuse cell phone text messages for ‘sanctions’ war
Not content with violently invading farms and other businesses, ZANU PF has now begun invading the privacy of Net One mobile phone subscribers, by sending messages telling them to sign the so-called anti-sanctions petition.

Zim rights group dismisses ‘growing support’ for ZANU PF
The Crisis Coalition has dismissed the findings of a recent report which alleged that public support has grown for ZANU PF and faded for the MDC. The findings indicated that support for the MDC had dropped to 38% from 55% in 2009, while ZANU PF's popularity had increased to 17%, from 12% in 2009.

Bulawayo man arrested over Facebook message
Vikas Mavhudzi of Old Magwegwe, is being charged with “subverting a constitutional government” after he posted a message on a Facebook page allegedly belonging to Prime Minister Tsvangirai.

Police ban ZCTU march commemorating Women’s Day
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions reports being denied permission by police in Bulawayo to organize a march commemorating International Women’s Day. Barbara Tanyanyiwa, who heads the ZCTU Women’s Council, said police claim there is a directive from the head office in Harare, banning all processions until further notice.

US concerned about renewed political violence in Zimbabwe
The United States deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Susan Page, has deplored the recent increase in political violence and arrests. She was speaking in Harare Friday at the end of a brief visit to the country.

Germany angered over attack on ambassador
Germany has protested to the Zimbabwe Foreign Affairs Ministry this week, after its ambassador, Albrecht Conze, was attacked by a suspected ZANU PF mob in Harare on Tuesday.

More health worries for Mugabe as he flies back to Asia
His ZANU PF party and spokesman might not publicly admit it, but Robert Mugabe’s health problems are mounting. Reports say the 87 year old flew back to Asia on Thursday, a third time in 3 months, to seek medical treatment.

China helps build state intelligence complex for Mugabe
Construction of the government’s secret electronic eavesdropping complex just outside Harare is moving at a ‘very fast pace’ and it’s believed the complex will, amongst many other things, be used to monitor internet use and telephone calls.

U.N. human rights chief calls for release of detained activists
The top human rights official at the United Nations has added her voice to the global condemnation of the ongoing arrests and crackdown on activists in Zimbabwe.

Tsvangirai urges SADC & AU to act on violence in Zimbabwe
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Wednesday expressed serious concern at the ongoing crackdown against MDC MPs, supporters and pro-democracy activists.

WOZA leader says protests need proper planning
Zimbabwean activists are not as committed to the hard underground work that needs to be done in order to organize successful protests against the Mugabe regime. This was the damning verdict of Jenni Williams, the leader of the pressure group WOZA.

Jabulani Sibanda shuts down schools for ZANU PF rally
Mugabe ‘hanged’ by UK protesters
Zimbabwean protesters in London displayed their anger with Robert Mugabe’s ongoing grip on power, by ‘hanging’ the dictator outside the Zimbabwean embassy on Tuesday.

More activists arrested as Mugabe hits panic button
Mugabe’s regime appears to have hit the panic button, ordering the arrest of a total of 93 activists in the last 2 weeks alone. With protests having toppled regimes in Egypt and Tunisia, the ZANU PF leader seems determined to pre-empt similar revolts in Zimbabwe.

Go-ahead for Gukurahundi monument
The Matobo Rural District Council has granted victims of political violence permission to erect a monument to commemorate the Gukurahundi massacres. The Zimbabwe Victims of Organised Violence Trust made an application last month, saying the monument is badly needed because the story needs to be told.