ZANU PF turn Mbare into a war zone
Rampaging ZANU PF youth militia invaded the Harare suburb of Mbare over the weekend, beating up and displacing suspected MDC supporters. The youths are reported to have declared Mbare a no go area, leaving many of their victims homeless.

State drops treason charges against Gwisai and fellow activists
The state has dropped treason charges against Munyaradzi Gwisai and five, other activists who were arrested in February while attending a video screening about the people’s uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.

ZANU PF torture agent not immune from prosecution in the UK
A self confessed ZANU PF henchman, who has controversially received asylum in the UK, will not be immune from prosecution for the crimes he allegedly committed.

AU credibility questioned as Zim set to chair peace organ
The credibility of the African Union is being questioned, after news that Zimbabwe will assume the chairmanship of the bloc’s Peace and Security Council. The rotational chairmanship passes from South Africa to Zimbabwe in June.

Activists protest at UK home of CIO who was granted asylum
At the weekend dozens of MDC-T activists demonstrated at the Bristol home of Phillip Machemedze, a former CIO agent controversially granted asylum in the UK.

COPAC extends thematic committee stage by five days
Delegates working on COPAC’s thematic committee stages have been given five extra days to finish organising data collected during last year’s outreach program. Initially the process was due to have ended over the weekend but the sheer size of data collected has made it impossible for the job to be completed in two weeks.

MDC-T say call for radio licenses “bogus” and a diversion
The offer of two commercial radio licenses, made by the current Broadcasting Authority on Thursday, has been dismissed as “bogus” by the deputy Minister for Information, Murisi Zwizwai, who said he was also speaking as MDC-T representative in the inclusive government.

ZANU PF army general calls for elections in 2011
A Brigadier-General in the army has said that elections should be held this year and Robert Mugabe should remain in office for life. Douglas Nyikayaramba, commander of the Mutare based 3 Brigade, told the Zim Independent that a poll this year would ensure ‘political stability’ as ZANU PF would win the election.

More evidence surfaces linking Minister to murder
The niece of a Lutheran World Federation employee murdered in 1999 has told SW Radio Africa that co-Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi wrote a letter asking to meet her uncle Strover Mutonhori, around the time of the kidnapping.

Broadcast Authority offers two commercial radio licenses
The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe on Thursday called for applications for two commercial radio licenses in an ad in the state run Herald newspaper. A number of media groups described it as nothing more than a political ploy by the Mugabe regime, who want to deflect criticism at next month’s SADC summit on Zimbabwe.

ZANU PF to snub SADC election roadmap
Robert Mugabe will use the next SADC summit in South Africa to tell regional leaders that Zimbabwe does not need an election roadmap and there will be no security sector reforms. The 87 year old ZANU PF leader will hide behind the 2008 power sharing deal and claim it already lays the frame work for elections.

Magistrate takes leave to work as ZANU PF advisor in COPAC
A Harare based regional magistrate, Never Katiyo, has taken sabbatical leave from his Rotten Row court room to work as a ZANU PF technical advisor on the drafting of a new constitution.

Police threaten to shoot lawyers for missing activists
Police in Tsholotsho have continued to deny lawyers access to two officials from the ZimRights civic group, who were on Monday. Florence Ndlovu and Walter Dube have not been seen since they were taken by police at a roadblock set up ‘to specifically arrest’ them. They had been banned from holding an anti-torture workshop at Tshino Business centre, even though they had a court order giving them permission.

SA joins SADC in protecting unlawful land reform
South Africa has joined the rest of SADC in appearing to protect Mugabe’s unlawful land grab campaign, in another blow for dispossessed farmers. South Africa’s Constitutional Court has this week dismissed a final attempt by a farmer who lost land in Zimbabwe, who was seeking compensation for his loss.

High Court orders release of ‘2007 coup plotters’
The High Court has ordered the release of seven army officers who were arrested four years ago on allegations of planning to oust the former ruling ZANU PF party from power. The ‘coup plotters,’ who face charges of ‘an intention to remove Mugabe from office by unconstitutional means, and conspiracy to commit treason’, pleaded not guilty when they first appeared in court but have remained in custody since 2007.

Police arrest two ZimRights employees in Tsholotsho
Police on Monday mounted a roadblock ‘to specifically arrest’ two Zim Human Rights Association employees, its director said. Okay Machisa told SW Radio Africa that police prevented regional coordinator Florence Ndlovu, and paralegal officer Walter Dube, from conducting a ‘torture workshop’ for villagers.

Nine arrests at WOZA demo against ZESA
Nine members of Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise in Bulawayo were arrested Tuesday following another demonstration against the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority’s continued power cuts and tariffs.

Zim sound engineer wins South African award
Former SW Radio Africa sound engineer Keith Farquharson, has picked up an award for Best Engineer at the 2011 MTN South African Music Awards. The ceremony was held in Johannesburg over the weekend and saw Farquharson rewarded for his work on the Freshly Ground Radio Africa album.

SADC turns its back on human rights
The Southern African Development Community has decided to dissolve the regional human rights court, for at least another year. The Tribunal has already been suspended for more than six months after SADC leaders last year decided to review the functions of the court.

MDC calls for release of activists and mourners
Obert Gutu, the MDC-T’s Secretary for Harare Province, is calling on the authorities to release party activists and mourners from a funeral, who are still being held behind bars since last week, saying they are being held on trumped-up charges. Gutu also said some of them are unwell and are being denied access to their medication.

Zim activists, lawyers & journalists arrested at SADC Summit
The summit of regional leaders got underway in Namibia on Friday but a group of civil society activists, including top lawyers and a journalist, were on Friday arrested and ‘violently ejected’ from the venue.

Education Minister says each child allocated only $2 per month
Minister David Coltart has revealed that each child in Zimbabwe has been allocated just under US$2 per month in the budget towards their education. Coltart made the shock revelation on Tuesday during an Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa roundtable discussion.

Zim bumped off SADC agenda
Zimbabwe will not feature on the agenda of this weekend’s Summit of SADC leaders, after South African officials finally confirmed that President Zuma would not be attending the meeting. The Summit officially gets underway in Namibia on Friday and the Zim crisis was meant to be high on the agenda.

Mugabe dismisses reports of failing health
Robert Mugabe has dismissed as ‘misplaced’ the reports that his health is failing, telling the state media that he and wife Grace are both in ‘sound health’. In an interview published by the Herald newspaper Thursday Mugabe said he still exercised regularly and that his only ailment was a recent eye cataract op in Singapore.

Ex-CIO exposes horrific acts of torture in UK asylum case
The testimony of a former intelligence agent, who has been granted asylum in the UK, has exposed ruthless acts of torture, rape and murder committed against MDC supporters in Zimbabwe.

Still no official confirmation that Zim is on SADC agenda
There was still no confirmation Wednesday that Zimbabwe will be on the agenda of the upcoming SADC summit, with growing speculation that the issue will be deferred.

Zimbabweans want media diversity in new constitution
Information from data recorded during the outreach program of the constitution making process shows that in most districts of the country, participants want a free and independent media.

Media Alliance opposes move for more controls
The Media Alliance of Zimbabwe this week turned down an invitation by the Zimbabwe Media Commission, to consult on the formation of yet another media body.

SADC Tribunal future uncertain
The future of the regional human rights court remains uncertain, amid some reports that Justice Ministers from across Southern Africa have agreed that the court’s decisions are null and void.

Mangoma, Paul Siwela trials drag on
The trial of the MDC’s Deputy Treasurer General, Elton Mangoma, has been postponed to Wednesday, after the State claimed it needed to obtain additional information for cross-examination purposes.

COPAC meetings delay POSA debate in Senate
Senate debate on the Public Order and Security Act Amendment Bill will only begin in July, after completion of thematic committee meetings of the constitution making process.

Zim crisis faces being left off SADC agenda
Zimbabwe could once again be bumped off the agenda of upcoming talks by SADC leaders, because South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma might not attend. The SADC Summit is set to begin in Namibia on Friday but there has been no confirmation that Zimbabwe will be on the agenda.

Mutambara ‘steps down as president’
A break-away group of the smaller MDC faction led by Welshman Ncube, has announced that their leader Arthur Mutambara has surrendered his position as president of the party.

Memorial for murdered activist Tonderai Ndira
The Saturday memorial service for the murdered civic and MDC activist Tonderai Ndira revived memories of the many who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the liberation of Zimbabwe from decades of political oppression.

Mugabe convoy stoned in Uganda
Robert Mugabe was on Thursday caught up in a violent backlash by opposition supporters in Uganda and his convoy was stoned by protesters who hurled stones at several convoys of African leaders who were on their way to attend the swearing in ceremony of President Museveni in Kampala. Protesters were heard shouting, “Go to hell dictators!”

SA team dismisses ZANU PF attempts to block progress
The South African facilitation team, trying to negotiate an end to Zimbabwe’s political mess, has dismissed efforts by the ZANU PF politburo to block progress. The team is in the process of finalisng a draft roadmap towards free and fair elections in Zim, ahead of the SADC summit.

Constitution dispute resolved and drafting back on track
A bitter dispute that was threatening to overshadow the drafting of a new constitution has been resolved and a settlement between the two MDC formations and ZANU PF was agreed Thursday night. The MDC formations had ordered their delegates to down tools Monday following a dispute over methodology at the start of thematic committee stages of the process.

Still no action on 75 000 civil service ghost workers
Last year in November a civil service audit exposed the fact that over 75 000 ghost workers are milking US$20 million every month out of the cash strapped treasury. But almost seven months after that same report was submitted to cabinet for discussion, no action has been taken.

Fireworks at politburo meeting as Chinamasa & Goche ejected
There were fireworks at Wednesday’s ZANU PF politburo meeting as a war of words broke out between rival factions, resulting in GPA negotiators Patrick Chinamasa and Nicholas Goche being asked to temporarily leave the room.

COPAC management locked in meetings to resolve impasse
The stalemate that has thrown the constitution making process into disarray could be resolved in the next three days, a co-chairman of COPAC said on Thursday. Douglas Mwonzora, the co-chair representing the MDC-T, said they are trying to get the impasse created by ZANU PF resolved as soon as possible.

Soldiers shut down Chitungwiza hospital during Mugabe visit
Several patients are reported to have suffered in agony after military officers shut down Chitungwiza hospital during a visit by Robert Mugabe. The incident took place on March 25th when the ageing ZANU PF leader opened a Renal Unit at the hospital.

SADC summit on Zimbabwe may be delayed
The hotly anticipated SADC summit could be postponed, amid concern that the regional bloc is trying to delay having to deal with the Zimbabwe crisis. Lindiwe Zulu, a member of SADC’s facilitation team, said on Monday that the meeting, meant to get underway next Friday in Namibia, could be put off. She said it was not confirmed due to ‘clashing meetings.’

More arson attacks against MDC-T in Manicaland
A week after several houses of MDC-T supporters were burned down in Chimanimani, another arson attack has been reported in Manicaland. The MDC-T said two houses and a granary belonging to the chairperson for Mutasa Central district, Solomon Mutizawafa, were burned to the ground this week.

Negotiators agree on probe into army atrocities
Zimbabwe’s nter-party negotiators are reported to have struck an agreement in South Africa to set up an independent commission of inquiry into the role of the army in the abduction, torture and murder of civilians.

Moyo further strains Zim, SA relations with fresh attack on Zuma
ZANU PF spin doctor Jonathan Moyo, is once again straining an already tense relationship between South Africa and Zimbabwe, after another written attack on President Jacob Zuma. Moyo again used the state media this week to trash Zuma’s ongoing mediation efforts in Zimbabwe’s political crisis.

Bulawayo riot police crush peaceful WOZA protest
Baton-wielding riot police waged a brutal crackdown Tuesday on peaceful Women of Zimbabwe Arise demonstrators in Bulawayo. Witnesses said dozens were injured.

Paul Siwela case postponed as judge demands affidavit
A judge has ordered Mthwakazi Liberation Front leader Paul Siwela, to present an affidavit, stating that he promises not to commit treason offences if released on bail.

Minister seeks refuge behind wheelie bin
Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Didymus Mutasa sought refuge behind wheelie bins as angry refugees and activists in South Africa disrupted a ZANU PF anti-sanctions rally. In the end the Saturday rally at the Hillbrow Theatre in Joburg never took off.

UK urged to deport ZANU PF ‘asylum’ children
The UK government is being urged to deport the children of one of Mugabe’s former chief oppressors within the CIO, who have reportedly applied for political asylum. Menard Muzariri, who was deputy director general of the CIO, died in April and four of his five children are believed to be living in the UK where they have applied for asylum as “political refugees.”

MDC factions, Zapu demand voting right for Diaspora
The MDC-N has joined the MDC-T and ZAPU in criticising ZANU PF’s Emmerson Mnangagwa who said that Zimbabweans in the diaspora should not be allowed to vote until targed sanctions imposed by the west were lifted.

MDC-T to launch independent inquiry into violence
The MDC-T will launch an inquiry into the intra-party violence that marred the build up to its congress held in Bulawayo last weekend. Nelson Chamisa said both the National Council and Congress resolved that all those people who were directly or indirectly involved in disturbances are going to be dealt with.

Mahoso to co-chair new constitution media committee
The country’s reviled ‘media hangman,’ Tafataona Mahoso, has been appointed co-chair of the thematic committee dealing with the media for a new constitution in Zimbabwe.

US Ambassador dismisses ZPF anti-sanctions petition
The Mugabe regime’s attempt to “petition” their way out of targeted sanctions imposed by the EU and Western powers received a blow this week. Charles Ray, the United States ambassador to Zimbabwe, dismissed the petition being circulated by ZANU PF, calling for the removal of the restrictive measures

SADC blasted for joining ZPF anti-sanctions campaign
SADC leaders have been strongly criticized for taking on the campaign against targeted sanctions that were imposed on the Mugabe regime by the EU and its Western allies.

EU defends targeted sanctions on 6 state media journalists
The EU Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Aldo Dell'Ariccia, has defended maintaining targeted sanctions on six state media journalists because their reporting “incites hatred” which analysts say has helped fuel political violence.

Zim authorities demand bribes for passports
Zimbabwean officials at a temporary Consular office in South Africa are reportedly refusing to hand out passports to citizens who applied for them, until bribes are paid.

Mystery over whereabouts of missing MDC-T activists
Four MDC-T activists have not been seen for three days. They were last heard from when they made frantic phone calls from Matapi police station in Mbare.

ZANU PF linked to poaching syndicate
Robert Mugabe’s party has been linked to a complex, international syndicate specialising in the trafficking and poaching of Zimbabwe’s wildlife.

ZANU PF militia burn down village in Cashel Valley
21 villagers from Nyambeya in Cashel Valley fled their village after ZANU PF militia carried out an early morning raid Sunday and burned down houses owned by MDC-T officials.

Zim talks to continue in Cape Town
The negotiators from the political parities in Zimbabwe’s coalition government will head to Cape Town this week, for the latest round of talks with President Jacob Zuma’s facilitation team.

Mudzuri emerges as biggest election casualty of MDC congress
Elias Mudzuri’s political fortunes took another nosedive over the weekend when he was defeated as the MDC-T’s organising secretary, by Nelson Chamisa, the former party spokesperson. The former Harare Mayor, who had been dropped from cabinet last year by Prime Minister Tsvangirai, garnered 707 votes to Chamisa’s 2,670.

Senior Obama advisors meet SADC over Zimbabwe
Several senior advisors to US President Barack Obama last Thursday in Washington met a high powered delegation from the Southern Africa Development Community to discuss mounting violence and arrests in Zimbabwe.

HIFA artists ‘targeted by ZANU PF thugs’
Four sculptors who participated in the recently ended Harare International Festival of Arts were attacked by ZANU PF thugs on Sunday. Our correspondent said the sculptors were headed for HIFA when they were picked up by a group of Zanu PF youths, taken to the party’s provincial offices and beaten up.