Five workers shot on invaded Chinoyi farm
Five workers on a farm in the Chinoyi district are in hospital after being shot and wounded Friday by a man believed to be working for the Reserve Bank official who has taken the land. The farm legally belongs to Louis Fick, but has for months been under siege by hired thugs working for deputy Reserve Bank governor Edward Mashiringwani.

SADC to hold special summit on Zimbabwe.
Speaking to reporters on Friday Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said that the SADC Troika currently in Zimbabwe had decided to recommend a special SADC summit on the political crisis, although no date had been set. Meanwhile Joseph Kabila, the current chair of SADC, told journalists in South Africa on Friday that he didn’t believe the political deadlock in Zimbabwe was out of control.

MDC activists still live in fear of violence in Mashonaland Central
Thousands of MDC activists in Mashonaland Central province say that a climate of violence still persists. MDC MP for Mazowe central, Shepherd Mushonga, said that most of their supporters spoke unanimously of living in a state of ‘generalised fear’ and that the recent disengagement of their party from ZANU PF exposed the emerging tensions between the two parties.

Deportation of top UN official sparks major diplomatic incident
United Nations human rights expert, Manfred Nowak, was blocked from entering Zimbabwe Wednesday and was deported on the orders of ZANU PF. Nowak had originally been invited by the government, but at the last minute, while in Joburg on his way to Harare, the invite was withdrawn, because everyone was ‘ busy with the arrival of the SADC team’.

SADC Troika begins mission in Zimbabwe
The SADC Troika on Defence, Security and Politics began its ‘fact finding’ mission in Zimbabwe Thursday. The ministerial mission is led by Oldemiro Baloi, the Mozambican Foreign Affairs Minister, Zambia’s deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Fashion Phiri, and Lutho Dhlamini from Swaziland.

Zimbabwe Election Support Network officers arrested
Two more members of the civil society were arrested this week as the crackdown on perceived ‘opponents’ of the State continues. The Zimbabwe Election Support Network staff members, Thulani Ndhlovu and Ndodhana Ndhlovu, were arrested Wednesday in Hwange’s Dete area, for conducting a public workshop, allegedly without police clearance.

MDC transport manager abducted
The MDC issued a statement on Wednesday saying Pascal Gwezere, the party’s Transport Manager, was abducted from his home in Harare on Tuesday night. The MDC employee had just arrived home in Mufakose when six armed men arrived and said he was under arrest. The statement said the men also returned on Wednesday and took away his wife’s cell phone.

SADC jets in as attacks on MDC & NGO’s heighten tension
A leading human rights lawyer has said there is a disturbing escalation of violence and recent attacks on MDC activists, both in urban and rural areas, have escalated the tense relations between Tsvangirai and Mugabe. The human rights defender warned that the country was on the brink of a major catastrophe which if not immediately addressed would plunge Zimbabwe into a crisis worse that last year.

Government withdraws UN torture expert invitation
The government has made a u-turn on its decision to invite a United Nations expert on torture to the country, withdrawing the decision at the last minute. The UN’s Special Rapporteur, Manfred Nowak, was invited to conduct an official fact-finding mission, from 28th October to 4th November. But on his arrival in Johannesburg, on transit to Harare on Wednesday, Nowak was told that his mission had been postponed.

Armed men attempt to kidnap MDC official
A group of armed men attempted to kidnap the MDC’s security administrator, Edith Mashayire, in broad daylight in Harare on Tuesday. Mashayire said she was attacked around 8am near XIMEX mall, on her way to the MDC headquarters where she works. She said four armed men in plainclothes pounced on her and ordered her to get into their Isuzu twin cab, saying she was under arrest. Mashayire said they tried to push her into the vehicle but she resisted and started screaming for help.

Crisis meeting between Mugabe and Tsvangirai ended in deadlock
Crisis talks held in Harare on Monday between Morgan Tsvangirai and Robert Mugabe ended in a deadlock as the two leaders remain ‘worlds apart.’ MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa, said Mugabe would not move an inch following talks mediated by Arthur Mutambara, leader of the MDC-M. The meeting began at 4 and ended just after 8pm. Speaking to journalists, Chamisa said there was no agreement at all. Tsvangirai and his MDC ministers boycotted Tuesday’s cabinet meeting for the second week in a row.

NANGO leaders released on bail
The two NANGO leaders who were arrested Sunday on allegations of holding ‘an illegal political meeting’ were granted bail Tuesday. NANGO Chief Executive Officer Cephas Zinhumwe, and board chairperson Dadirai Chikwengo, were arrested at the airport when they were trying to leave for Harare after attending a two-day conference in Victoria Falls. NANGO spokesperson Fambai Ngirande said that the two were granted bail, pending another hearing in November, after the State failed to clarify what regulation they had violated under the Public Order and Security Act.

Tsvangirai and Mugabe meet for crisis talks
The three principals to the Global Political Agreement met in Harare on Monday for a crisis summit. Morgan Tsvangirai’s spokesman James Maridadi said that the meeting was to discuss the issue of the MDC ‘disengagement’ from ZANU PF and the other outstanding issues related to the GPA. Maridadi stressed that this was not their regular Monday meeting but one‘ to resolve issues that threaten to derail the inclusive government.’

Mugabe denies ZPF failure in unity government
Robert Mugabe has denied that ZANU PF has played any part in the failure of the unity government, insisting that his party has abided by all the conditions set by the Global Political Agreement. In his first public comments since the MDC announced it’s ‘disengagement’ last week, Mugabe said this weekend that his party had fulfilled its part of the agreement and he would not to yield to MDC pressure.

NANGO leaders arrested over ‘illegal political meeting’
Two officials from the National Association of Non-Governmental Organizations were arrested in Victoria Falls on Sunday for allegedly holding a ‘political meeting.’ NANGO board chairperson Dadirai Chikwengo, and Chief Executive Officer Cephas Zinhumwe, were arrested at the airport when they were trying to leave for Harare after attending a two-day scheduled conference in the resort town on Friday and Saturday.

Fresh violence rocks Chiweshe in Mashonaland Central
Fresh violence erupted in Chiweshe district this week as 50 homes belonging to known MDC supporters were burnt down by ZANU PF militias. The MDC MP for Mazowe central, Shepherd Mushonga, said that their supporters and activists were being driven out by the militias, led by a well known district coordinating committee chairman named as Gatsi.

Minister Mutasa says MDC behaving like ‘little babies’
Didymus Mutasa, the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs said ZANU PF is not taking any notice of the MDC boycott, and that the MDC are behaving like ‘little babies.’ Mutasa was speaking on the Hot Seat programme on Friday about his party’s position on the political deadlock threatening the unity government.

Activists slam unscrupulous NGO’s exploiting Zim refugees in SA
Several activists and MDC officials in South Africa have slammed an NGO that allegedly manipulated the plight of Zimbabwean refugees there to raise funds for a repatriation programme.

State prosecutor charged with contempt in Muchadehama trial
An incident in court Thursday shows that the State completely disregards the rule of law in Zimbabwe. Public prosecutor, Andrew Kumire, was sentenced to five days in jail for contempt of court, by Harare Magistrate Chioniso Mutengi, but evaded the prison cells by filing a bail application through another Magistrate, Mishrod Guvamombe, who granted him bail immediately.

Kenyan PM urges Mugabe to step down
Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has urged Robert Mugabe to ‘relinquish power’ saying the ZANU PF leader alone was ‘responsible for the political stalemate’ in Zimbabwe. Speaking in France during a joint press conference with the French Foreign Affairs Minister, Odinga did not mince his words, saying; ‘In Zimbabwe Mr. Mugabe is not part of the solution to the political problem; he himself, is the problem.’

SA opposition says Mugabe cannot be part of Zim’s democracy
South Africa’s main political opposition, the Democratic Alliance, on Thursday said Mugabe cannot be part of Zimbabwe’s road to democracy, saying the dictator must be offered an ‘exit strategy’ if the country is to ever recover. The party presented its ‘Roadmap to Democracy in Zimbabwe’ in the South African parliament Thursday morning, as a response to the MDC’s decision to disengage from ZANU PF in the unity government.

Tsvangirai meets Zuma to apprise him on situation in Zimbabwe
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai met South African President Jacob Zuma in Cape Town on Wednesday to apprise him on the situation in the country. Tsvangirai’s spokesman James Maridadi told SW Radio Africa that the two leaders met for a private one-to-one meeting which lasted for an hour.

Police & CIOs main witnesses in Bennett’s trial
The contentious trial of MDC treasurer General Roy Bennett is set for November 9 and the line up of state witness is full of police officers and state security agents. Bennett’s chief legal counsel Beatrice Mtetwa told SW Radio Africa on Wednesday that of the 13 key witnesses for the State, 11 are either from the President’s office or from the police.

Makoni says MDC boycott driven by ‘jobs for the boys’ mentality
Former Finance Minister and Mavambo party interim President Dr Simba Makoni has criticised the MDC-T for ‘disengaging’ from the coalition government. In an in-depth interview on our Behind the Headlines series Makoni argued that, “the issues over which the MDC are disengaging from ZANU PF are issues of ‘jobs for the boys and girls,’ and not policies that can deliver real change for Zimbabweans.”

Cabinet meeting goes ahead without the MDC-T
On Tuesday Mugabe went ahead and chaired a cabinet meeting with his party and the MDC-M, despite the boycott by the MDC-T. However, while the ZANU PF & MDC-M were meeting at Munhumutapa government offices, ministers from the MDC-T were having their own separate meeting at their party headquarters, Harvest House.

MDC activist left for dead by ZANU PF war veterans in Makoni
A losing MDC candidate in last year’s rural district council elections is lucky to be alive after he was severely assaulted and left for dead, by a group of ZANU PF militias in Makoni South, Manicaland province. Elliot Mutizhe, who stood as an MDC candidate in the 2008 harmonized elections, is recuperating in a private hospital in Mutare following the attack on Monday night.

PTUZ says exam deadline extension did not help
A decision by the Ministry of Education to extend the deadline for pupils who had failed to raise fees for this year’s exams did not help, because most schools did not get the government circular. Education Minister David Coltart had said parents could make arrangements with schools and regional ministry offices to pay exam fees in installments.

Tsvangirai embarks on regional diplomatic offensive
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has embarked on a diplomatic offensive to explain to regional leaders the reasons the MDC has disengaged from the unity government. The MDC leader is also pushing for SADC to hold an extraordinary meeting to deal with the outstanding issues in the unity government.

Attorney General Tomana is prosecutor in Bennett case
The Roy Bennett case reached new heights of political interference on Monday when the Attorney General, Johannes Tomana, personally appeared in a Mutare court to prosecute in the case of the MDC Treasurer General.

ZANU PF begins forced militia recruitment in Mudzi
A squad of ZANU PF militants, who were behind last year’s election violence, is moving around the Mudzi district forcibly recruiting innocent youths to join the notorious ‘green bomber’ militia. Our correspondent Lionel Saungweme reports that between the 12th and 14th of October dozens of villagers below the age of 35 were rounded up in the Chinake, Chatima, Murenyi and Denga areas of Mudzi.

Zimbabwe in crisis as MDC cuts off contact with ZANU PF
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has announced his party’s ‘disengagement’ from ZANU PF, who he described as dishonest, unreliable and unrepentant. He said despite countless meetings among the Principals, countless press conferences, numerous correspondence and trips to the SADC plus a SADC summit, non-compliance and toxic issues continue to impede the transitional government.

Bennett granted bail by the High court
MDC treasurer-general and the deputy Agriculture Minister designate, Roy Bennett, was on Friday granted bail by the High Court in Harare. His lawyer Trust Maanda said they hoped he would be released from custody Friday evening. High Court Judge Justice Charles Hungwe ordered the release of Bennett, who is detained at a prison in Mutare.

Fort Hare Uni under pressure over axed scholarship students
South Africa’s Fort Hare University is under growing pressure to intervene in a row over the Zimbabwean Presidential Scholarship programme that has stopped funding 12 students, for alleged political activity.

Botswana won’t recongise Mugabe if coalition collapses
Botswana’s President Ian Khama has warned that Zimbabwe’s powersharing government is on the verge of collapse, because ZANU PF refuses to implement the key issues that were agreed.

PM pleas to stop soldiers invading farm, ignored
An invaded farm in the Headlands district continues to be overrun by soldiers, acting as land invaders, despite a written plea by Prime Minister Tsvangirai to the Defence Ministry to control its armed forces.

Muchadehama’s trial opens in Harare
Prominent human rights lawyer Alec Muchadehama pleaded not guilty to charges of contempt of court on the first day of his trial in Harare. The state case against Muchadehama is that he allegedly connived with Constance Gambara, a clerk to High Court Judge Chinembiri Bhunu to ‘unlawfully release’ on bail political detainees from police custody.

Fort Hare Uni says axed students engaged in politics
A spokesman for Fort Hare University in South Africa has confirmed that around 12 Zimbabwean students were removed from Mugabe’s Presidential Scholarship programme because they engaged in politics.

ZINASU leaders arrested & beaten for ‘denigrating’ Mugabe
5 senior members of the Zimbabwe National Student Union were arrested Saturday when overheard saying that Mugabe was the major outstanding issue stalling progress of the inclusive government. ZINASU President Clever Bere said they were talking in a commuter omnibus when another passenger, a police officer, told the driver to go to Harare Central police station.

16 candidates shortlisted for Human Rights Commission
A Law lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe, Dr Ellen Sithole, was the leading candidate after Monday’s interviews to sit on the country’s first ever statutory human rights commission. She was closely followed by Bulawayo based lawyer Kucaca Phulu. The two are part of a list of 16 candidates from a list of 35 applicants who were short listed, following interviews in Harare.

Bennett’s trial Tues but no indictment papers from prosecutor
The trial of Roy Bennett, the MDC Deputy Agriculture Minister-designate, is supposed to start in Mutare on Tuesday but his lawyer, Trust Maanda, has said it may not kick off because the defence team has still not been furnished with the indictment papers.

Wildlife sector under threat as gov adopts new land ‘reform’ policy
The government has adopted a new, controversial, land ‘reform’ policy aimed at the so-called ‘resettling’ of the wildlife sector. The programme has been adopted under the position of conservation and ‘sustainable use of wildlife’.

ZANU PF will stand in the way of transparent land audit: JAG
Justice for Agriculture on Friday warned that ZANU PF will stand in the way of a transparent land audit, arguing the party will go out of its way to control the process for its own benefit.The European Commission this week said it is ready to fund an audit of the so called land reform programme, as it’s a key step to resolving Zimbabwe’s land issues.

Zimbabweans to benefit from relaxation of UK immigration rules
Thousands of Zimbabwean asylum seekers are to benefit from the relaxation of immigration laws by the British government. From July, the UK government quietly loosened the immigration rules for asylum seekers, in order to clear a backlog of cases. The British government two years ago halted its policy of returning Zimbabwean asylum seekers because of the dire political situation.

Charamba reveals media commission will be delayed
The licensing of private newspapers, tv and radio stations may have to wait a long time after George Charamba, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Publicity, revealed on Tuesday that the Zimbabwe Media Commission will only be set up when all other commissions are formed.

Soldiers involved in rape and other sexual violence on farms
Cases of serious sexual violence, including the recent rape of at least one woman by soldiers on an invaded farm, are being investigated, as members of the armed forces continue their illegal seizure of the land.

Brigadier Mujaji stealing maize from commercial farmer
Soldiers under the control of Brigadier General Mujaji are continuing to disrupt farming activities at Charles Lock’s Karori farm in the Headlands district. For the past two nights the Brigadier has stolen up to 210 tons of maize belonging to Lock, although it’s hard for the family to know the exact amount as they are stopped by soldiers from entering their own farm.

ZimVigil urge EU suspend aid to SADC over Zim
The Zimbabwe Vigil, a grouping of activists demonstrating in London every Saturday for the past 7 years, says this weekend it will petition European government’s to suspend aid to countries in the SADC region because of their inaction in dealing with problems in Zimbabwe.

Ten ‘MDC’ students kicked off presidential scholarship
Ten Zimbabwean students at the University of Fort Hare in South Africa have been struck off a Presidential Scholarship Fund, for allegedly supporting the MDC. The scholarships are meant to assist under-privileged students, using taxpayer’s money, but have been dogged over the years by accusations of being politicized in favour of beneficiaries aligned to ZANU PF.

Tsvangirai tells supporters to gear up for elections in 2011
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has told his supporters to prepare for free and fair elections in 2011. Addressing thousands of MDC activists during a whirlwind tour of four districts in Matabeleland North over the weekend, the MDC leader said the constitution-making process would bring in a free and democratic Zimbabwe.

Shamu appointees tainted by murder & political violence
A recent appointee to the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings board, retired Brigadier Benjamin Mabenge, two years ago shot and killed an MDC activist on his farm in cold-blood. Described as a ‘blood thirsty monster’ Mabenge, in November 2007, fatally shot Clement Takaendesa at close range, using a powerful FN rifle. He was briefly arrested but was released just days after the fatal shooting.

The militarization of media and information parastatals
The formation of the inclusive government led many to believe the country was moving towards greater openness and democracy. But that hope is now beginning to rapidly fade. In the latest development, veteran journalist Makusha Mugabe said by appointing eight retired military officials to the parastatal media boards, Minister Shamu has given the military more of a role in the information and publicity ministry than ever before.

Swedish dairy equipment firm violated targeted sanctions
A dairy equipment company may have violated European Union targeted sanctions by doing business with Grace Mugabe. Delaval supplied dairy equipment to Gushungo Dairy Estate, a farm Grace controversially ‘acquired’ along with 6 other farms.