Swedish ambassador takes swipe at Zimbabwe’s media laws
The Swedish ambassador to Zimbabwe Sten Rylander has criticised the government for adopting a hostile approach to the media. Rylander made the comments during a presentation to the Media Studies programme at the National University of Science and technology in Bulawayo Friday.

Peter Ndlovu sets up trust fund for Shonhayi
The death of Francis Shonhayi in Cape Town this week has seen legendary Zimbabwe National team captain Peter Ndlovu setting up a Trust Fund to help with the funeral expenses of the man they called ‘Sandura’.

Government owned Zimbank purging workers who own shares
Workers at the state owned Zimbabwe Banking Corporation have alleged that management is carrying out a purge of all workers who hold shares in the bank.

All arrested MDC members released
Speaking soon after his release on Wednesday Mutare North MP Giles Mutsekwa said the charges against the three MDC members were withdrawn before plea by the state adding; “Obviously they would have known that apart from the exaggeration from the print media, which is pro-government, there was really no legal case for us to answer.”

Riot police called in after university students clash with lecturers
Students in the law faculty at the university of Zimbabwe were involved in scuffles with their lecturers on Tuesday. Faculty Representative Brighton Makunike says although most students have failed to raise the new tuition fees, the law department registered the highest number who managed to pay.

Political analyst says MDC arrests signify government’s fear of Tsvangirai
The ongoing arrests and the harassment of MDC officials is just a sign that the government views the MDC and Morgan Tsvangirai as the real enemy. This was the view offered by political analyst and commentator Dr John Makumbe, and it came on a day that the state controlled paper The Herald reported that another MDC official had been arrested.

Zimbabweans in the UK to demonstrate against MDC arrests MDC supporters and sympathizers in the UK who have been following events back home have also said there is a pattern of harassment and intimidation that they have noticed.

Portsmouth manager defends ‘expensive’ Zimbabwean striker’s form
English premiership manager Harry Redknapp has defended Portsmouth’s record buy, Benjamin Mwaruwaru over his poor scoring form.

War veterans shut down sports club over Tsvangirai address
A group of war veterans shut down a sports club owned by the National Railways of Zimbabwe last Friday, for allowing opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to address a meeting there earlier in the month. Tsvangirai was a guest at the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) silver jubilee celebrations and addressed the...

Pro-senate MDC official denies receiving government support
Deputy Secretary General Priscilla Misihairambwi Mushonga, denied her group received any financial support from the government to pay for their congress. Tendai Biti, Shadow minister for finance in the Tsvangirai MDC had said that the MDC group led by Mutambare had received Z$8 Billion meant for opposition parties under the political finance act and that they had used this for their congress...

Minister admits housing sheme abuse
The over-hyped housing scheme known as ‘Operation Garikai’ actually benefited government officials, politicians and their relatives. This is according to the local government minister under whose supervision 700 000 people were made homeless under ‘Operation Murambatsvina’. Ignatius Chombo might have thought he was telling the world something they....

Another MDC official arrested
The MDC information department released a statement late Tuesday afternoon announcing that police in Harare had arrested MDC Mabvuku MP Timothy Mubhawu. The party’s Secretary for Information and MP Nelson Chamisa said the arrest was another attempt by the Mugabe regime to derail the MDC Congress. Mubhawu was detained without any charge after he reported...

'Last Chance Saloon' for MDC rebels
MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa has said the congress set for this weekend is the last platform for members who defected from the party to use as a springboard to come back to the fold. Invitation letters have been sent out to almost all members who split from the Tsvangirai camp, but analysts believe none of them will turn up .....

Transport obstacles for MDC national congress delegates
A senior MDC official has said delegates travelling to Harare over the next three days for the party’s congress will have to find their own way to the capital. This follows the reluctance of most transport operators to hire out their buses to provincial delegates. Masvingo provincial treasurer Bernard Chiondegwa said most transport

Economist warns Zimbabwe dollar almost totally wiped out in value
Analysts have warned of worse things to come if disastrous policies implemented by the government are not changed. Economist John Robertson said the economy is in very bad shape because of the rapid level of inflation.

New MDC vice-President vows to fight for gender equality
Newly elected Vice-President of the MDC, Thokozani Khupe said the absence of other women in the top leadership of the party should not be construed as bias.

Violent clashes force South African church to evict Zim refugees
Violent tribal clashes between Zimbabwean refugees that left at least 2 dead last week in South Africa have forced the Methodist church..

Government bans army and police retirements
Any soldier or policemen intending to resign from the force before the completion of 10 years service will no longer be able to do so. According to the ZimOnline news...

Student leaders defy expulsion order by attending lectures
3 university of Zimbabwe student leaders who were expelled for organizing demonstrations against tuition fee increases have continued attending lectures in defiance of the expulsions. Mfundo Mlilo, Wellington Mahohoma and Collen Chibango say they are tired of University authorities setting the agenda for them.

Residents forced to hire chef’s vehicles for trips to mortuary
Some families in Harare have reported that they are being forced to hire vehicles belonging to government officials and ruling party chefs to transport their deceased relatives to the mortuary.

ZCTU’s dutch consultants deported at Harare Airport
Government continued its crackdown on the main labour union by deporting two visiting consultants from the Dutch trade union FNV.

Madhuku says room for only one MDC
Speaking on the programme Commentary political commentator Dr Lovemore Madhuku said the Tsvangirai led congress is very important because it will define which group has the people’s support. But he warned that Zimbabweans cannot afford to have the luxury of having two movements.

UN criticises Botswana’s human rights
The United Nations has released a report highly critical of Botswana’s growing hostility towards immigrants, especially those from Zimbabwe. The report, compiled after an investigation by a UN committee in that country, painted a picture of a country with very little regard for human rights, where refugees are locked up in prison for up to four years.

Harare commission seeks dialogue with residents
The Makwavarara led Commission running the affairs of the City of Harare has approached the Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) to engage in dialogue for the benefit of residents.
In a statement released Friday CHRA’s 45-member executive committee, its policy-making body, agreed to engage with the commission.

MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai has told thousands of party supporters that Robert Mugabe has become a national liability who should be removed from power to save the country from further ruin.

University of Zimbabwe student leaders expelled
3 student leaders who were suspended last week pending a disciplinary hearing have been expelled.

High Court throws out second bid to evict publisher’s mother
Former Zanu PF provincial chairman Jacob Mudenda has again failed in a fraudulent bid to evict media mogul Trevor Ncube’s mother from her house in Bulawayo.

All arrested MDC members released
Speaking soon after his release on Wednesday Mutare North MP Giles Mutsekwa said the charges against the three MDC members were withdrawn before plea by the state adding; “Obviously they would have known that apart from the exaggeration from the print media, which is pro-government, there was really no legal case for us to answer.”

Riot police called in after university students clash with lecturers
Students in the law faculty at the university of Zimbabwe were involved in scuffles with their lecturers on Tuesday. Faculty Representative Brighton Makunike says although most students have failed to raise the new tuition fees, the law department registered the highest number who managed to pay.

Political analyst says MDC arrests signify government’s fear of Tsvangirai
The ongoing arrests and the harassment of MDC officials is just a sign that the government views the MDC and Morgan Tsvangirai as the real enemy. This was the view offered by political analyst and commentator Dr John Makumbe, and it came on a day that the state controlled paper The Herald reported that another MDC official had been arrested.

Zimbabweans in the UK to demonstrate against MDC arrests MDC supporters and sympathizers in the UK who have been following events back home have also said there is a pattern of harassment and intimidation that they have noticed.

Portsmouth manager defends ‘expensive’ Zimbabwean striker’s form
English premiership manager Harry Redknapp has defended Portsmouth’s record buy, Benjamin Mwaruwaru over his poor scoring form.

War veterans shut down sports club over Tsvangirai address
A group of war veterans shut down a sports club owned by the National Railways of Zimbabwe last Friday, for allowing opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to address a meeting there earlier in the month. Tsvangirai was a guest at the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) silver jubilee celebrations and addressed the...

Pro-senate MDC official denies receiving government support
Deputy Secretary General Priscilla Misihairambwi Mushonga, denied her group received any financial support from the government to pay for their congress. Tendai Biti, Shadow minister for finance in the Tsvangirai MDC had said that the MDC group led by Mutambare had received Z$8 Billion meant for opposition parties under the political finance act and that they had used this for their congress...

Minister admits housing sheme abuse
The over-hyped housing scheme known as ‘Operation Garikai’ actually benefited government officials, politicians and their relatives. This is according to the local government minister under whose supervision 700 000 people were made homeless under ‘Operation Murambatsvina’. Ignatius Chombo might have thought he was telling the world something they....

Another MDC official arrested
The MDC information department released a statement late Tuesday afternoon announcing that police in Harare had arrested MDC Mabvuku MP Timothy Mubhawu. The party’s Secretary for Information and MP Nelson Chamisa said the arrest was another attempt by the Mugabe regime to derail the MDC Congress. Mubhawu was detained without any charge after he reported...

'Last Chance Saloon' for MDC rebels
MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa has said the congress set for this weekend is the last platform for members who defected from the party to use as a springboard to come back to the fold. Invitation letters have been sent out to almost all members who split from the Tsvangirai camp, but analysts believe none of them will turn up .....

Transport obstacles for MDC national congress delegates
A senior MDC official has said delegates travelling to Harare over the next three days for the party’s congress will have to find their own way to the capital. This follows the reluctance of most transport operators to hire out their buses to provincial delegates. Masvingo provincial treasurer Bernard Chiondegwa said most transport

2 MDC activists and 4 police officers tortured in arms cache fiasco
Lawyers representing the eight men accused of plotting to kill Mugabe have said six of their clients were tortured and assaulted by state agents, to force them to admit to a crime they totally deny. The suspects who appeared in court on Saturday were remanded to appear in court again Wednesday.

Suspicion over party funds given to pro-senate MDC by government
In February, it was reported that Z$8 billion was given by the government to the group now led by Professor Arthur Mutambara, as the share allotted to opposition parties that have representation in parliament. Officials from the party have since confirmed this was true, but MDC shadow minister for economics Tendai Biti told us Monday that he believes the group received much more than that for their congress, using the Political Finances Act as a cover for support.

Mugabe’s favoured minister could face 50 years jail for stock-theft
Sithembiso Nyoni is considered by many to be one of Mugabe’s favourite cabinet ministers. Mugabe went to extraordinary lengths to secure her ministerial status after her loss in parliamentary elections made her ineligible for cabinet under the country’s constitution.

All set for second MDC national congress this weekend
Over 15 000 party delegates are expected to attend the long awaited second MDC national congress that kicks-off in Harare Friday. Party leader Morgan Tsvangirai is certain to retain his post unopposed. Others who will be elected unopposed are party heavyweights, Isaac Matongo, Roy Bennett and Sekai Holland after they emerged unopposed at the end of the nomination process on Sunday.

Minister threatens to eliminate opponents
Minister of State Security Didymus Mutasa on Wednesday warned on state television that the govt would “eliminate” people in the opposition who upset the security of the country. This announcement came a day after state reports that police had uncovered an arms cache at the home of an alleged former Rhodesian army officer Peter Hitschmann.

NCA youths hold peaceful demonstrations in Harare
There is growing restlessness in Zimbabwe, which has resulted in people taking to the streets. A group of NCA members held a peaceful demonstration in Harare Wednesday against “illegitimate laws and an illegitimate constitution.” S tudents in tertiary education have in recent weeks embarked on demonstrations over the latest ten-fold increase in tuition fees. NCA activist Dzvairo said plans are underway to organise demonstrations that will encompass all stakeholders.

Government spending billions to house 3 governors in hotels
The government is housing 3 provincial governors in luxurious hotels in Bulawayo. Although each of these governors had their own homes at the time they were appointed by Mugabe, the properties were not deemed lavish enough for provincial government officials and accommodation was found for them in top hotels in Bulawayo.

30 students arrested in Bulawayo
At least 30 students were arrested in Bulawayo on Tuesday during demonstrations over fee hikes. The protesters were from the National University of Science and Technology, Hillside Teachers College and Bulawayo Polytechnic.

Security situation ‘tense’ as anger increases over food shortages
In a precautionary measure to counter any uprising over the serious food shortages, the government has reportedly put security forces on high alert.

Asylum hearing to determine policy on Zimbabwe begins in UK
Three high court judges began listening to arguments on Monday in the UK asylum case..

Mugabe’s land policies to blame for food shortages

The MDC Secretary for lands and agriculture, Renson Gasela, has said Robert Mugabe should accept full responsibility for the serious food shortages currently sweeping through the country.

ZANU-PF chef tries to evict Trevor Ncube’s mother
A bid by a former provincial governor and Zanu PF provincial chairman, Jacob Mudenda to evict media mogul Trevor Ncube’s mother from her house in Bulawayo, backfired in the courts last week. The property, estimated at Z$1 billion, is registered under Kroutz Investments (Pvt) Ltd, a company owned by Ncube and was bought for use by his mother and two nephews.