Shocking video shows Zimbabwe police beating recruits
SW Radio Africa has obtained exclusive video footage showing a number of police recruits in Zimbabwe being tortured and beaten in a series of sickening assaults by what appears to be their instructors. In one horrifying attack, a recruit is pinned down by six officers with one stepping on his back as laughing instructors whip and kick the defenseless man.

SA Presidency accused of hiding Zim violence report
The South African Presidency has been accused of deliberately hiding a suspected controversial report on the Zimbabwe security forces role in last year’s deadly post-election violence. President Jacob Zuma’s office has rejected numerous requests for the report, which was compiled last year by retired army generals, to be made public.

More prisoners die as hunger stalks Zim jails
Prisoners locked away in Zimbabwe’s nightmare jails are still dying from hunger related diseases, as the widespread food crisis continues to cripple the country. This week alone, six inmates at the Mutimurefu prison in Masvingo died, adding to the more than 900 prisoner deaths already recorded this year.

Zimbabwean journalists & lawyers brought before the courts
There was much activity in the magistrates’ courts in Harare on Thursday when human rights lawyers, two senior journalists and WOZA activists appeared in court on separate, routine, remand hearings.

Army threatens war over Gono removal
The country’s security chiefs have taken the current political fight over the reappointment of Gideon Gono a step further, threatening to take up arms to prevent the removal of the Reserve Bank Governor.

Tsvangirai and Mutambara have officially asked SADC to intervene
Prime MinisterTsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Mutambara have finally sent a letter to SADC, officially asking them to break the talks deadlock over the appointments of the central bank chief and the attorney general.

MDC still to officially ask SADC to intervene
MDC President Tsvangirai will only officially notify SADC of the talks deadlock the end of this week, a party source told SW Radio Africa on Wednesday. Almost all leaders in the region have been briefed informally by the MDC about the deadlock. Following these consultations, the MDC will now officially invite SADC to arbitrate.

Abducted Pastor released unharmed
On Tuesday information was received from an MDC official that another person had been abducted by unknown assailants. The official said Pastor Berejena had been a close spiritual friend of Prime Minister Tsvangirai and a spiritual strength to many victims of political violence and that he was abducted Monday afternoon by suspected CIO operatives.

Farmer prosecuted for being on his land
A commercial farmer based outside Mutare has become the latest farmer to be prosecuted and sentenced by Zimbabwe’s courts, raising fears that the fast track court prosecution of the country’s remaining farmers is underway. Ian Guy Campbell-Morrison spent Tuesday night in a Mutare jail after he was found guilty of farming, on land he legally owns.

Mugabe says Gono will stay on as RBZ governor
Robert Mugabe on Monday told state TV that Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono will retain his job, despite pressure for him to go. Mugabe blamed critics in the UK and elsewhere for being the source of the pressure.

Ministry orders journalists register with non existent commission
Last Thursday Prime Minister Tsvangirai told journalists that the Media and Information Commission ceased to exist in January as a result of the agreements in the GPA.

Zim most food aid dependent country in the world
Zimbabwe has been rated as the most food-aid dependent country in the world, a title that comes as the unity government continues to refuse to act on the ongoing land invasions.

Prime Minister plays down farm attacks
Members of Zimbabwe’s farming community have reacted with outrage to comments by Prime Minister Tsvangirai in which he played down the severity of the recent spate of land invasions. In an interview about the 100-day milestone of the unity government last week, Tsvangirai called the recent attacks ‘isolated incidents’ that have been ‘blown out of proportion’.

Tsvangirai to ignore Gono letter
Prime Minister Tsvangirai has still not received an acrimonious letter, allegedly written by Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono, complaining of victimization by Finance Minister Tendai Biti. But even if the letter does eventually arrive Tsvangirai plans to ignore it. Officials have confirmed that this is because the MDC does not recognize the appointment of Gono and Attorney General Johannes Tomana.

No electricity for Harare high density suburbs for 4 days
Harare suffered a major breakdown of power delivery on Friday, resulting in most high density areas having virtually no electricity for the past four days. Our correspondent Simon Muchemwa said that places such as Mbare, Glen Norah, Mufakose, Kuwadzana and Warren Park were affected by the breakdown of the power grid in Harare.

Tsvangirai says he never received Gono letter
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai did not receive a letter said to have been written to him by the Reserve Bank Governor, in which Gono complained about alleged victimization by Finance Minister Tendai Biti. The letter accused Biti of pursuing a personal vendetta against Gono because the central bank was investigating allegations that Biti’s law firm, Honey and Blanckenberg, ‘externalized’ forex.

Workers assaulted as Headlands farm faces intensified attacks
The attacks on Karori Farm in the Headlands district have intensified, with two of the farm’s workers being assaulted this week. Brigadier General Justin Mujaji shut down the whole farm in an effort to plant his own wheat seed in farmer Charles Lock’s cultivated tobacco lands, using Lock’s manpower, equipment and fuel.

Succession debate raises tempers in ZANU PF politburo meeting
The succession debate in ZANU PF turned ugly on Wednesday, when members of the politburo demanded that the issue of who will take over from Mugabe be dealt with once and for all. The Zimbabwe Independent newspaper reported that tempers flared at the meeting, after the simmering succession crisis exploded into a charged debate.

Tsvangirai gives details of talks progress
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai held a press conference Thursday, where he said the Principals to the unity government had reached an understanding on a number of issues. But he said the government remains deadlocked over the post of Gideon Gono as Central Bank Governor and Attorney General Johannes Tomana. Tsvangirai said these two issues would be referred to SADC , who would be approached to mediate.

No movement on media reform despite government pledges
Promises by the unity government to reform the repressive media environment in Zimbabwe are proving hollow, with no evidence of any action being taken. The Prime Minister on Thursday said there have been “significant improvements in media freedom in the country.” But improvements, in the form of pledges, are not translating into action.

Gono accuses Biti of corruption
Gideon Gono, the controversial governor of the Reserve Bank, wrote a blistering letter to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai last week in which he accused Finance Minister Tendai Biti of victimising him and also of corruption. Gono claims a law firm in which the Minister was a senior partner externalised more than US$1 million in forex in contravention of Exchange Control regulations.

Government silence on land attacks continues
The deafening silence from the unity government on the ongoing and increasingly violent land invasions has continued, despite promises by government leaders that the rule of law will be respected in Zimbabwe.

Mugabe refuses to budge on issue of Gono and Tomana
Robert Mugabe has apparently refused to budge on his re-appointment of Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono and Attorney General Johannes Tomana amid reports the 3 principals have decided to declare a deadlock on these two issues.

Australian gold mine owner in Zimbabwe forcibly deported
Lee Johns an Australian businessman who used to own the Globe Phoenix Mine in Kwekwe was forcibly deported from the country on Tuesday. This follows reports he was locked in a fierce dispute with the Reserve Bank, who through their subsidiary Carslone (Private) Limited had taken over his mine.

Zimbabwe lawyers protest harassment
On Tuesday the Law Society of Zimbabwe held a peaceful demonstration in the streets of Harare protesting the continuing harassment of members of the legal fraternity. Two years ago several lawyers were assaulted by the riot police during a similar demonstration by the Law Society.

MDC to press ahead with SADC and AU intervention
The MDC will press ahead with referring all outstanding issues in the Global Political Agreement to SADC and the African Union for arbitration, despite ZANU PF’s objections. Mugabe’s ZANU PF rejected the move by the MDC to refer their dispute to African leaders, describing it as ‘premature’. Nicholas Goche, the ZANU PF negotiator in the dialogue that led to the GPA, told the state media discussions had not yet reached a stage where there was need for arbitration.

Diamond massacre victims buried in Chitungwiza mass graves
The bodies of 85 people killed by the army during the Marange diamond massacres were allegedly buried in 37 shallow graves in Chitungwiza this year. Journalist and blogger Denford Magora says he has reliable information that some of the dead include victims of the violent June 27th one-man presidential run-off.

Elderly woman beaten and detained as farm attacks continue
The elderly mother of a commercial farmer has become the latest victim of violent attack, as the countrywide offensive to remove the remaining farmers off their land continues. The 80-year-old mother of Chinhoyi farmer Murray Potts was severely assaulted by police on Monday when they arrested her son for being on his land ‘illegally’.

MDC appeals to SADC and AU to break talks deadlock
The MDC on Monday officially notified SADC and the African Union of their national council resolution, which calls on African leaders to intervene to address the outstanding issues so negatively affecting the country’s fragile three-month-old coalition government. The top leadership of the MDC met Sunday in Masvingo and resolved to write to AU leaders and South African President Jacob Zuma, the current chair of SADC.

WOZA protest failures of unity government
About 1,000 members of the pressure group Women of Zimbabwe Arise took to the streets in four separate demonstrations that merged at the government complex in Bulawayo on Monday. WOZA spokesperson Annie Sibanda said the aim of the protests was to highlight the failures in the first 100 days of the power sharing government and the fact that very little progress had been made in the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans.

15 MDC youths arrested after clashes with ZANU PF
A second attempt to hold elections for the Zimbabwe Youth Council ended in violence between ZANU PF and MDC youths at the Mhlahlandlela government complex in Bulawayo this past Friday. Last week similar but controlled tensions forced a postponement of the government sponsored council, after ZANU PF youths climbed on top of tables, shouting obscenities at the MDC youths.

Announcement on outstanding GPA issues postponed
The eagerly awaited statement about the talks to resolve the remaining issues in the unity governent, has been postponed to a later date. The principals had been scheduled to issue a statement Friday. There are reliable reports that Mugabe is refusing to budge over the appointments of Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono and AG Tomana.

Tsvangirai stopped from attending State House function
Robert Mugabe held a state banquet for a North Korean delegation on Monday and although Tsvangirai had an invitation his spokesperson, James Maridadi, said guards at State House said the Prime Minister couldn’t enter, because one of his lead security cars had not been cleared.

Lawyer Alec Muchadehama released on bail
Prominent human rights lawyer Alec Muchadehama was released on bail on Friday, a day after being arrested and charged with obstructing the course of justice, in a case involving three abductees. He was remanded to 28th May.

Lawyer Alec Muchadehama arrested
The lawyer representing the political detainees, Alec Muchadehama, was arrested Thursday, accused of obstructing the course of justice. We spoke to the detained lawyer on the phone before he was locked up and he said he was being accused of ‘conniving with a judge’s clerk’ to get some bail orders filed, which led to the release of three of his clients on 17th April.

Private sector set for boost as billion dollar credit lines secured
The country’s private sector, which will play a critical role in rebuilding Zimbabwe, is set for a boost, with more than US$1 billion in credit lines being secured. Economic Planning Minister Elton Mangoma announced the news Wednesday, saying the pledges have come from African financial institutions and neighbouring South Africa and Botswana together have chipped in with US$150 million in credit lines.

MDC powerless to deal with ZANU PF hardliners
The MDC is aware that some of the top civil servants and cabinet ministers from ZANU PF are working against the unity government, but are powerless to deal with them. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Wednesday said that hard-liners left over from the old regime were endangering the country's future.

Abductees finally granted bail, again
Abductees Gandhi Mudzingwa, Chris Dhlamini and Shadreck Manyere, were finally granted bail of US$1000 bail each by a High Court Judge on Wednesday, a month after they were first released on bail, then re-arrested. They three had been in police custody for five months, prior to their first release, on 17th April. Defence lawyer Charles Kwaramba said it was a good judgment because Justice Mtshiya said there was no direct evidence, only circumstantial evidence.

Tsvangirai says government facing problems with hardliners
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said on Wednesday that hardliners from the old regime are endangering the lives of all Zimbabweans. He said the hardliners’ violations of the rule of law and of the agreement that created the inclusive government were holding up foreign aid. Political analyst Glen Mpani said since Tsvangirai has admitted that the new government is being thwarted by hardliners from ZANU PF he should move ahead and start identifying the culprits.

Foreign press team harassed as media reforms remain elusive
A group of foreign journalists last week became the latest media victims of harassment in Zimbabwe. The four Spanish journalists, who were visiting Mount Carmel farm in Chegutu, to document the ongoing illegal land invasion there, were terrorised, along with the farm’s owners, by a group of thugs working for ZANU PF top official Nathan Shamuyarira.

Principals to make announcement on GPA issues, Friday
Tsvangirai spent the day in meetings on Tuesday, first in cabinet and then with Mugabe and Mutambara, to try to iron out the outstanding issues still facing the inclusive government. Maridadi confirmed to us that the principals had met and tabled all outstanding issues on the Global Political Agreement. He said the principals have taken a position on all the issues and they were going to make an announcement on Friday.

Newspaper editors released on bail
Zimbabwe Independent editors, Vincent Kahiya and Constantine Chimakure, were released on US$200 bail after appearing in court on Tuesday, a day after they were arrested for publishing a story that quoted from a court document. They are facing charges of publishing a story that undermines public confidence in the police.

Judge to rule on 3 detainees’ bail application Wednesday
The three individuals still in police custody, on charges of plotting to overthrow the Mugabe regime, will find out on Wednesday whether or not they will be freed on bail. On Tuesday High Court Justice November Mtshiya said he would give his judgment after going through the arguments. This is a day after the judge ruled that MDC officials Chris Dlamini and Gandhi Mudzingwa, plus freelance journalist Shadreck Manyere, could make a fresh bail application.

MDC MP jailed for 10 months, with hard labour
The MDC MP for Chipinge East, Mathia Mlambo, was convicted and sentenced to ten months in jail with hard labour by a Chipinge magistrate on Monday. Mlambo, who was arrested in April, was found guilty of allegedly obstructing the course of justice and inciting violence at a funeral.

Zimbabwe Independent newspaper journalists arrested
On Monday two journalists from the private media were arrested for publishing a story containing the names of police officers and state agents implicated in the abductions of civic leader Jestina Mukoko, journalist Shadreck Manyere and others. This is despite the fact that the information was gathered from public documents, contained in court papers.

Cabinet to be briefed Tues on unity govt outstanding issues
A full cabinet meeting on Tuesday will be briefed on the outcome of the talks between Tsvangirai, Mugabe and Mutambara which have been aimed at ironing out the outstanding issues still facing the power-sharing pact. The three principals to the Global Political Agreement met again Monday, in what insiders said was probably their last round of talks on outstanding issues.

High Court delays ruling on detainees’ bail: clerk of court arrested
The 3 political detainees still in custody will spend some more time not knowing their fate, after High Court Justice November Mtshiya deferred a ruling on their matter to Monday. The ruling is also not going to be on whether or not the accused persons are entitled to bail, but merely on whether or not they should be heard. Meanwhile, the saga concerning the three detainees reached new heights Friday when a clerk of court, working for High Court Justice Bhunu, was arrested for allegedly assisting defence lawyers in paying an earlier bail for the three.

Anger over Mugabe’s presence at SA presidential inauguration
Robert Mugabe’s planned presence at Saturday’s inauguration for South African President elect Jacob Zuma has sparked an outcry from human rights activists. Pressure group Afriforum has urged the South African authorities to drop its invitation for Mugabe to attend the multi-million rand event. The group took the protest a step further this week, putting up posters around the Union Buildings, where the inauguration ceremony will take place.

MDC-M suspends 3 MPs and 3 others, including Job Sikhala
The MDC-M, under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, has suspended three of its MPs for allegedly ‘pushing a motion of no-confidence’ against the leadership of the party. Abednico Bhebhe of Nkayi West, Norman Mpofu of Bulilima East and Njabuliso Mguni from Lupane North were alleged to be increasingly at odds with the part and were officially suspended on Friday.

Media conference postponed to Fri pending Manyere bail hearing
A government media conference that was meant to start in Kariba on Wednesday hung in the balance Thursday, after the majority of journalists stuck to their boycott threat. The journalists grouped under the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe have said they will not attend if fellow journalist Shadreck Manyere is not released from detention where he is facing spurious banditry and terrorism charges.

ZANU PF governors to get compensation for standing down
The three principals to the Global Political Agreement have agreed to compensate ZANU PF governors who will step down to make way for new ones from the MDC formations, Newsreel learnt on Thursday. A highly placed source told us that during their Tuesday meeting, Robert Mugabe, Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara agreed that six out of the ten governors appointed by Mugabe on 24th August last year would have to step down.

Land audit gets green light as farm attacks continue
The unity government is reportedly set to press ahead with a land audit that will ultimately uncover the depth of land related corruption in Zimbabwe, as well as put a stop to the ongoing farm invasions across the country. The decision comes on the back of a report by a ministerial delegation tasked to investigate the recent wave of farm attacks, which have left the remaining commercial farming community reeling.

Journalists boycott media conference over Manyere detention
The Media Alliance of Zimbabwe has stuck to its guns and boycotted a government media conference that was meant to start Wednesday in Kariba. The national chairman of the Media Institute of Southern Africa, Loughty Dube, said they made it clear to government that as long as any journalist remained in detention, under the same laws that are meant to be discussed at the conference, their members will boycott.

MDC gives five-day ultimatum to resolve outstanding issues
Tendai Biti, the MDC secretary-general, delivered an ultimatum to the inclusive government Wednesday, and demanded that all outstanding issues in the Global Political Agreement be dealt with by Monday next week. This was the first admission by the MDC in nearly two months that things were not going smoothly.

Fresh violence on Chegutu’s Mount Carmel farm
There has been a fresh outbreak of violent attacks on Mount Carmel farm, with invaders viciously beating a farm worker and destroying the property, all in retaliation to a court order demanding they leave the land. The court order was handed down to the invaders Monday, as part of ongoing efforts by the farm owner’s, Ben Freeth and his parents-in-law, to have the invaders removed.

Unity government in turmoil after re-arrest of abductees
The inclusive government was on Tuesday thrown into turmoil after the re-arrests of the MDC and civil society members, on trumped-up charges of terrorism. The ruling was immediately condemned by the MDC who issued a statement calling for an urgent meeting of their national executive to discuss the latest crisis.

Journalists protest re-arrests and boycott govt media conference
Its reported that in an unprecedented move Zimbabwe’s embattled journalists took to Harare city streets Tuesday to protest the re-arrests of Jestina Mukoko and her 17 co-accused, including photo-journalist Shadreck Manyere. The group marched, sang songs, and chanting slogans for Manyere’s release.

JAG challenges MDC over arrests and farm invasions
Justice for Agriculture has lashed out at the MDC, for the party’s ‘complicity’ in the ongoing farm invasions and the re-arrest of the political activists. These are all clear violations of the Global Political Agreement that formed the basis for the unity government.

Media ‘talibans’ set to dominate Kariba conference
A government organized conference set for Kariba this week, to look at reforming the media, has drawn criticism for ignoring most of the major stakeholders and having an unclear agenda. Not only has the conference ignored exiled media organizations forced out by repressive laws, but the same people at the forefront of persecuting the media, have been selected to be keynote speakers.

Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara now set to meet Tuesday
The three principals to the Global Political Agreement met briefly in Harare Monday, but deferred until Tuesday any discussion on the outstanding issues that have been threatening the three month old inclusive government. It was reported last week that Mugabe,Tsvangirai and Mutambara, would meet again Monday, after 5 unsuccessful meetings in the past couple of weeks.

Teachers urged to return to work as donors take up salary fight
Teacher’s unions are encouraging their members to return to work at the start of the new school semester Tuesday, after a crisis meeting to avert a mass strike action proved successful Monday. Education officials and representatives from the international donor community met with union leaders in efforts to avoid the threatened strike over salaries.

Joice Mujuru faces ouster as ZANU PF infighting intensifies
In yet another sign that the coalition government is far from unified, it has emerged that top ZANU PF official and Deputy President, Joice Mujuru, is under threat from within her own party. According to the Zimbabwe Independent the move against Mujuru is being led by Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is alarmed by strong alliances being formed by some ZANU PF heavyweights with the Tsvangirai MDC.

ZEC and ZANU PF boycott conference on electoral reforms
Despite confirming that they would be there, no one from the Zimbabwe Election Commission or ZANU PF attended a two day regional conference on electoral reforms in Victoria Falls this week.The workshop was organized by ZESN in conjunction with the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa. It was attended by senior government officials, MPs and members of civil society.

Government and teachers to meet Monday to avert strike
Government officials and teachers’ unions have agreed to meet again on Monday, in an effort to avert a possible strike by teachers at the start of the new school semester next week. Schools reopen Tuesday and the meeting will see Education and Finance ministry officials trying to sway teachers away from the mass action.