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Amnesty pictures
Shocking satellite images released on Wednesday by Amnesty International provide the clearest possible evidence to date of the devastating impact of the Zimbabwean government's policy of house demolitions. The human rights group used images of Porta Farm before and after the introduction of Robert Mugabe’s Operation Murambatsvina to show the wholesale destruction of a large community in Zimbabwe. |
University of Zimbabwe hikes fees
The University of Zimbabwe has hiked its tuition and accomodation fees from Z$90 million to Z$150 million per semester and are almost certain to be heading on a collision course with students. UZ Vice-chancellor Levy Nyagura announced the new fee hikes in a circular sent out on Tuesday. |
South Africa’s top officials admit Zimbabwe is a problem
After maintaining dead silence over the deteriorating Zimbabwe situation for a long time now high ranking officials in South Africa have finally admitted Zimbabwe has a serious problem. Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma told parliament: "There is a problem, there is a challenge, but I do not have all the answers about how to solve Zimbabwe.” |
Z$500 Billion to be used to buy vehicles for MP’s and Senators
Zimbabwe’s Weekly Standard newspaper reports that the government will use Z$500 billion to buy luxury 4x4 twin-cab vehicles for Members of Parliament and senators. The paper says ‘the Reserve Bank has already released about US$350,000 for top of the range Isuzu, Mitsibishu, Nissan and Toyota vehicles.’ |
Banks run out of cash
Banks in Zimbabwe are reported to have run out of cash as the month comes to an end and the situation is bound to get worse as inflation drives up the cost of many basic commodities. |
Three Zimbabwean women found dead in South Africa
Zimbabweans in South Africa have reported that three women from Bulawayo were found dead in a bushy area near Johannesburg after they allegedly travelled to South Africa illegally last week. |
Mutambara MDC 'ready for talks'
The spokesman for the Arthur Mutambara MDC, Gabriel Chaibva has said they are ready for unification talks with the Morgan Tsvangirai MDC. |
ZIFA official stole to pay school fees
A Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) administrator who stole Z$124 million from the organisation says he did so to pay school fees for his three children and another three orphans under his care. |
Bennett to function as MDC treasurer general while in exile
Exiled opposition leader Roy Bennett has said he will continue with his official duties as MDC Treasurer General from neighbouring South Africa. |
“I’m ready to die” says Tsvangirai to supporters at London rally
On Sunday a community school in the South Camden area of London played host to opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and the MDC delegation he is calling “the liberation team”. The rally was attended by nearly 500 supporters whom Tsvangirai told that the leadership of the MDC were ready to die for freedom. |
Government unveils phone and e-mail snooping laws
A government gazette on Saturday unveiled a proposed law that is set to give Robert Mugabe’s regime the power to spy on phones and e-mails. Although the government argues the law is meant to protect national security and fight crime, critics say it is meant to stifle criticism of the regime.
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Madhuku re-elected to controversial 3 rd term as head of NCA
The controversy over Dr Lovemore Madhuku’s attempts to serve a third term as the head of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) came to a head at their Annual General Meeting on Saturday. In an atmosphere described as tense and despite criticism and pressure from some NCA stakeholders for the chairman to step down, Madhuku was re-elected for a third term. |
Tsvangirai MDC unveils roadmap at parliamentary conference in UK
At a press conference Friday at the House Commons in the UK, MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai unveiled the party’s roadmap for democratic transition and called on the international community and the UN to assist.... |
Constitutional crisis in the national constitutional assembly
A showdown is looming at the annual general meeting of the NCA Saturday over the term of office of Lovemore Madhuku’s chairmanship. |
Zim journalist arrested in Malawi
Tsvangirai Makwazhi and his Malawian counterpart Isaac Masingati were briefly detained by police in Malawi for taking pictures of the pillar on the Robert Mugabe Highway. |
Churches sponsor xenophobia meeting in South Africa
The Zimbabwe Pastors Forum and the South African Council of Churches are hosting a civic dialogue in Johannesburg Saturday. The aim is to try and fight xenophobia and expose government officials to the burning issues that are causing problems between the 2 communities. |
| British police accused of “racist” arrest of Zimbabwean sculptor Police in the Chelsea area of London have been accused of being racist after they arrested a Zimbabwean sculptor who is in London exhibiting at The Chelsea Flower Show. |
| Conflicting statements on alleged UN plan for Mugabe’s exit Statements about Zimbabwe made by South Africa’s president in London have been contradicted by UN officials and by representatives of the Mugabe regime. |
COSATU to engage Mbeki on Zim
Spokesman Patrick Craven told Newsreel the deportation of Zwelinzima Vavi last week Friday was a fundamental attack on the human rights of all trade unionists in the region and will be challenged. Although the High Court in Harare struck down the deportations of two other unionists from Zambia and Norway, it upheld the barring of Vavi from the country.. |
| University of Zimbabwe student president released Tinei Mukweva the President of the University of Zimbabwe Students Council was released late Thursday afternoon after spending 4 days in police custody. He was picked up at the UZ on Monday as part of the government’s crack down on student protests. |
South Africa denies Roy Bennett asylum In a move that casts further doubt on Zimbabwe’s neighbour in the south being an honest broker.... |
University of Zimbabwe student president being tortured by police
The President of the University of Zimbabwe Students Council, Tinei Mukweva, is reported to have been tortured by CID Law and Order officers. |
Two WOZA women arrested over scarf and t-shirt On Tuesday WOZA embarked on an anti fee-hike campaign targeting individual schools. At least 600 members took part in the education campaign in seven areas across Harare and Bulawayo. |
A2 farmers grabbing more land
Farmers in the sugar growing regions of Chiredzi and Chipinge in the lowveld area of Zimbabwe have come under intense pressure by resettled farmers to vacate their properties. |
WOZA women arrested as they take protests to schools
The pressure group Women of Zimbabwe Arise have embarked on an anti fee-hike campaign targeting schools. Programme Co-ordinator Jenni Williams said at least 600 members took part in WOZA’S education campaign Tuesday in seven areas across Harare and Bulawayo. |
| University Vice President released Diana Tasiyana, the Vice President of Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) who was arrested along with several students Friday is reported to have been released by the police. She was being questioned about the unrest that took place at Bindura University last week. |
Government bans medical group from treating victims at Hopley Farm The international medical group Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF) has been banned from assisting displaced families at the Hopley Farm. The MSF report said Hopley Farm camp on Harare's southern border had been hit by an outbreak of scabies, tuberculosis, pneumonia, malaria and sexually transmitted infections because of squalid conditions at the camp. |
Tsvangirai goes on diplomatic offensive
Movement for Democratic Change President Morgan Tsvangirai arrives in London Thursday on the second leg of a visit to European capitals as part of an initiative by his party to try to establish itself as the main opposition in Zimbabwe. |
Budiriro by-election the first test for voters since opposition split
There has been much confusion surrounding the existence of 2 opposition factions with the same name ever since the MDC split last year. |
Traditional court orders headmen to pay fine for supporting MDC
Two village headmen from Chimanimani in Manicaland province appeared in traditional court Saturday and were ordered to pay five head of cattle each after they were accused of supporting the MDC. |
Re-elected ZCTU leadership threaten strike action if negotiations fail
After getting a fresh mandate from workers in the country the leadership of the ZCTU has threatened strike action over poor working conditions. |
Mugabe spends billions on luxury vehicles for cronies
The government has ordered luxury cars worth millions of pounds in an effort to retain the support of allies as Robert Mugabe comes under mounting pressure to quit as President. |
University of Zimbabwe student president arrested
It’s reported that Tineyi Mukwewa, the president of the UZ Student Representative Council (SRC) was arrested Monday morning by police from the Harare CID law and order section. |
Bulawayo churches win
A high court decision announced late last Friday has been hailed as historic by officials from the Christian Alliance and church groups in Bulawayo. |
Mutambara and opposition members sing their way out of detention
Opposition leader Arthur Mutambara and at least 50 opposition members were arrested in Budiriro on Friday morning for taking part in an illegal election campaign. |
NCA members & students arrested
The government has this week conducted a slew of unwarranted arrests and intimidated anyone suspected of organising activities to commemorate the 1 st anniversary of the disastrous Operation Murambatsvina. |
South African labour leader barred from entering Zimbabwe
Immigration officials barred the Secretary General of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), Zwelinzima Vavi from entering Zimbabwe on Friday. |
Registrar-General accused of tampering with Budiriro voters roll
With a day to go before the Budiriro by-election, the Registrar-General Tobaiwa Mudede is yet again at the centre of an election controversy following accusations of stuffing the voters’ roll with Zanu (PF) activists. |
Zimbabweans worse off as they remember demolitions
Today is the 1st anniversary of the disastrous exercise government called Operation Murambatsvina (cleanup filth) in which innocent Zimbabweans who built their own homes and created businesses were deprived of both. |
Budiriro schools shut down as Mugabe forces children to his rally
Last year in May the Zanu PF government destroyed the homes and vending stalls of people in Budiriro and other parts of the country. On Thursday Robert Mugabe’s heavily armed entourage thundered its way into the same community asking for their votes in the run up to Saturday’s by-election. |
Mugabe appoints former top military officers to run NRZ
Workers at the National Railways of Zimbabwe have complained about what they call the militarization of the parastatal which is the largest employer after government. |
MDC factions cause media headache Ever since the MDC split into two faction last October the coverage of what used to be the country’s main opposition party has become a nightmare for most journalists. How do you cover two opposition parties with one name. |
Makumbe arrested and church leaders interrogated
On Thursday 18 th May Zimbabwe’s social movements which include the civic society, student groups and churches will embark on a two month campaign to commemorate the first anniversary of Operation Murambatsvina. But the police have already banned the commemorations. |
CFU vice president Gifford ordered to vacate farm in Chipinge
In a shocking revelation the vice president of The Commercial Farmers Union Trevor Gifford revealed that he has been ordered to vacate his farm in Chipinge and make arrangements for a new owner to take over. This comes at a time when the CFU says they have been in discussions with government regarding a new plan to give back land to whites who were evicted during the land invasions. |
43 ZCTU congress delegates to be deported
International delegates to the ZCTU congress are set to be deported after 4 others were kicked out on Wednesday. Jan Mahlangu (COSATU), Nina Mjoberg (LO Norway), Alice Siame (Zambia) and another trade unionist from Swaziland were kicked out by immigration officials under instructions from the labour ministry. |
Government urged to reveal extent of Cholera threat
There is growing concern about the ongoing threat of cholera that has already killed close to 50 people in the country since February this year amid concerns government could be suppressing information on the deadly disease.Dr Henry Madzorere, secretary for Health in the MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai said the first line of defence against the fast spreading disease is to warn people. |
Released student describes inhuman and degrading police torture
The students who were arrested for taking part in anti fee hikes at Bindura University last week allege they were assaulted and received degrading treatment from the police. Part of this involved being forced to perform simulated sex acts. |
Rape and abuse of women rife in border jumping syndicates
The tragedy of the economic and political crisis rocking Zimbabwe came to the fore again as the bodies of 13 border jumpers were retrieved from the Limpopo River that forms the border with South Africa. What is more worrying are reports that female border jumpers are being subjected to rape and sexual abuse from those helping them cross the border. |
MDC launches second phase of intense mobilisation in rural areas The MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai has launched its second phase of intense mobilisation by venturing into rural Zimbabwe before finally embarking on a season of democratic resistance. The planned mass protests, dubbed ‘the cold season of democratic resistance’ by Tsvangirai are already gathering momentum in the country. |
Govt approves salary hikes to bribe war vets
ZANU-PF’s central committee and the politburo have apparently approved new hefty salaries for war veterans in a restructuring of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association. Reports say t he new salaries were recommended by a four-member committee set up by Robert Mugabe. |
ZANU PF MP and wife blocking food to opposition in Insiza
Bulawayo Archbishop Pius Ncube has expressed concern at the continued partisan distribution of much needed food in Matebeleland region especially in Insiza and Gwanda. The outspoken cleric alleges that the MP Langa and his wife are at the centre of this practice and have made the Grain Marketing Board in the area totally disorderly. |
Zanu PF’s secret newspapers
There are startling revelations that ruling party officials are being given licences to publish local newspapers in their constituencies. |
Tsvangirai attracts thousands and Mujuru cancels in Budiriro
Morgan Tsvangirai held a rally in Budiriro on Sunday which attracted thousands ahead of the by-election next Saturday. He spent the day visiting ordinary residents talking about the party’s programmes. |
Zimbabwe’s bid to host 2010 CAF finals thrown out
As expected, Zimbabwe on Sunday lost its bid to host the 2010 Confederation of African Football finals. A CAF executive committee, meeting in Cairo, Egypt heard a total of eight bids and eventually eliminated Zimbabwe on the first hurdle together with bids from Mozambique, Namibia and Senegal. |
Lawyer says Bindura students tortured in police custody
Andrew Makoni, a lawyer representing students from Bindura university reports that all 15 who were arrested Monday were tortured in police custody. Makoni himself missed a bail hearing for the students because of threats by ZANU PF sponsored thugs. The lawyer said the students were unfairly denied bail by a Bindura magistrate after being linked to the violence that took place at the University. |
Civic leader urges co-ordinated protests
Within days of police warning him about engaging in ‘subversive’ acts Bulawayo Agenda leader Gordon Moyo has defied the threats by calling on all civic groups to unite for coordinated protests. He says the current sporadic demonstrations by women’s groups, students and NCA members were good for building momentum but there is need to conduct them simultaneously. |
Tsvangirai to drum-up support for Budiriro by-election candidate
With less than a week to go before the crucial Budiriro by-election in Harare MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai will visit the constituency on Sunday to drum-up support for their candidate, Emmanuel Chisvuvure. |
Confusion as Mugabe signs Education Amendment Bill
Robert Mugabe signed The Education Amendment Bill on Monday this week. This legislation gives the government the power to determine the fees charged by private schools and provides the minister with special powers.
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| Budiriro violence: 15 injured, including toddler and others arrested
Violence broke out in Budiriro on Friday as several thousand MDC supporters were leaving a rally addressed by Emmanuel Chisvuvure, the Tsvangirai MDC candidate in the by-election due next week. According to the Tsvangirai MDC information secretary Nelson Chamisa, the crowd leaving the MDC rally was attacked by rank marshals alleged to have been hired by ZANU-PF chef Saviour Kasukuwere. |
Computer lab burnt as students react in fury to police brutality
What started as sporadic peaceful protests over crippling tuition fee hikes at state universities countrywide has slowly become a rebellion by students at Bindura University. |
NCA demonstrators arrested
National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) activists were picked up by the police in central Harare during a street protest calling for a new constitution in Zimbabwe.
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Harare council demolishes new vending stalls
In a move that further shows the lack of vision and planning by the illegal ... |
Top theatre director arrested
Police in Bulawayo arrested Zimbabwe’s most prominent theatre director Cont Mhlanga on Tuesday. He is facing allegations of conducting political meetings in the high-density suburbs without police clearance. Officers from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) picked up the Amakhosi Theatre productions founder at around 8:30am before releasing him later in the day. |
Chimanimani villagers plan to boycott Zanu PF businesses
Reacting to discrimination by ZANU-PF businesses that turn away customers suspected to be opposition sympathisers, villagers in Chimanimani are planning to boycott those same establishments ahead of the rural council elections due in August this year. MDC supporters in Chimanimani have been targeted in many ways by the ruling party. They need ZANU-PF cards to buy food from the Grain Marketing Board, and some have lost jobs and government benefits simply for their political allegiance. |
Malawi news boss could be axed for asking Mugabe about retirement
The Daily Times of Malawi reports that the acting Managing Editor of the Malawi News Agency (MANA) Don Napuwa is in the firing line for asking Robert Mugabe about the succession issue in Zimbabwe. Napuwa is said to have asked Mugabe the question at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe on Saturday. The press conference was jointly addressed by Mugabe and Bingu Wa Mutharika. |
Kagoro: Avoid "internal cannibalism"
Outspoken civic leader and political commentator Brian Kagoro has said the split in the MDC is unfortunate as a much weaker opposition would find it difficult to contain Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF.Kagoro said if the two factions, which are led by Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara respectively, insist on competing as factions they should at least expand their energy and the few resources they have in a robust communication strategy. |
Shock as prices double overnight
Zimbabweans were shocked on Tuesday when they awoke to discover the prices for basic commodities and other goods had doubled overnight. This was only 24 hours after many had struggled to find enough money to send their children back school with fees having been raised by 1000% this term. A 300 ml container of fresh milk went up to Z$ 90,000 from Z$ 55,000. Chimombe milk is now Z$ 110,000, up from Z$ 65,000 and 1 kg powdered milk now costs Z$ 915,000, up from Z$ 600,000 a day earlier. |
Street vendors return to Bulawayo
One year after the government cleared the streets of urban centres across the country of vendors, beggars and street children, informal traders are trickling back but are forced to play hide-and-seek as police prowl the streets of Bulawayo. The city has witnessed an upsurge in the number of vendors and hawkers who are back on the streets. |
18 students assaulted and arrested at Bindura University
18 students from Bindura University were arrested as the impasse over harsh school fee hikes continues between the university students and the government. The government announced unaffordable increases in tuition and accommodation fees in all state owned tertiary institutions... |
Major celebrities offer support to Zimbabwean women
After receiving nothing but laughter from ZANU-PF members in parliament, the crisis faced by Zimbabwean women who have no sanitary pads has managed to get support from major celebrities based in the UK. Tabitha Khumalo, general secretary... |
WOZA protests break out in Harare as Bulawayo protesters are released
There seems to be no stopping the defiant Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA). A few hours after the majority of their members were released from police custody in Bulawayo, hundreds more of their members including school children began another demonstration in Harare. |
Students arrested for vandalising portrait of Mugabe
A group of student leaders who had gathered for the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) congress in Harare were arrested by police on Friday accused of disrespecting Robert Mugabe by allegedly vandalising his portrait. The students were represented by lawyer Alec Muchadehama... |
Government on witch-hunt for Bennett supporters in Manicaland
It seems the Zimbabwean authorities will not rest where Roy Bennett is concerned. After releasing him from jail last year he was this year implicated in a plot to assassinate Robert Mugabe. Fearing for his life and after spending 6 years under constant harassment and intimidation by the government ... |
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