http://www.2bctnd.net/swradioafrica/podcasts/05/aoz250507.mp3

 On the Pulse speaks to Phil Wakabikwa from Phab Entertainment, the promoters of the Alick Macheso and Alan Chimbetu show in the United Kingdom. Why have they opted to combine the two stars for three gigs in London, Leicester and Leeds? Lance Guma and Brilliant Pongo find out why and also play music from Macheso including Madhawu, Amai Va Rubhi, Zvakanaka Zvakadaro and Baba Na Mai.

http://www.2bctnd.net/swradioafrica/podcasts/05/otp250507.mp3

http://www.2bctnd.net/swradioafrica/podcasts/05/callback250507.mp3

Police extend ban on political rallies in Harare
Police have banned rallies and demonstrations in 4 districts of Harare until the 23rd June citing what they called ‘recent disturbances.’ The ban expired on20 th May and the extension has taken many by surprise as the security forces have been on the offensive abducting and torturing opposition activists.

Leading rights groups submit report on Zimbabwe crisis to Africa Commission
Pressure is mounting on the Africa Commission currently sitting in Ghana to take urgent steps against the human rights abuses in Zimbabwe . REDRESS, an international NGO working to obtain justice and reparation for torture survivors, joined forces with Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Article 19 and the International Bar Association to produce a report giving the Africa Commission an alternative perspective.

MDC UK to hold strategic planning workshop in Birmingham
The first ever MDC strategic planning workshop to prepare for a new Zimbabwe will be held in Birmingham UK on Saturday. Activists will examine various issues including how the party could work with Zanu (PF) progressive forces. MDC member Makusha Mugabe said the workshop is open to all card carrying members of the party and has a number of guest speakers lined-up to present topics of major concerns to the opposition party.

Christian Alliance has successful youth rally in Mutare
About 300 youths from Mutare gathered at a church on Friday for a peaceful rally organized by the Christian Alliance. Coordinator Pastor Ray Motsi said the idea was to inform them about the issues concerning our country, how they ought to behave and what is the way forward. The event took place just a day after government extended the ban on political rallies.

Bulawayo churches to commemorate Murambatsvina 2 years on
On Saturday all churches in Bulawayo, under the Christian Alliance banner, will be hosting a commemoration of Operation Murambatsvina, the government’s destructive so-called cleanup exercise that displaced almost a million people two years ago.

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Simeon Mawanza a researcher with Amnesty International is the guest on Behind the Headlines. Lance Guma speaks to him about their state of the world report in which they revealed the worsening plight of victims of Operation Murambatsvina in Zimbabwe. Mawanza says the much talked about Operation Hlalani Kuhle or Garikai was nothing more than a public relations exercise.http://www.2bctnd.net/swradioafrica/podcasts/05/bth240507.mp3

Glen is a Zimabbwean academic who now lives and studies in the Western Cape. This section of South Africa has recently enjoyed a boost of emigrant Zimbabweans as it is perceived to be relatively free from the menace of immigration officials as is the situation in Gauteng.
Mandisa speaks to Major in Botswana about his family situation, which is typical of the ‘modern’ Zimbabwean family, half of them are in the Diaspora while the other half are back at home. Major talks about difficulties in getting passports and id’s and why he thinks the government is making sure that people don’t get them.

http://www.2bctnd.net/swradioafrica/podcasts/05/callback240507.mp3

16 miners & 4 police reported dead after fight over diamonds
We received reports that 16 illegal diamond miners, 4 police officers and a horse died during a fight that occurred last week in the Chiadzwa district of Manicaland. Our Mutare contact Brendon Dhliwayo said the deaths have not been publicised and others have occurred since. The situation in this area where diamonds were discovered last year is tense because government is trying to contain illegal miners who are desperate villagers with no income. With unemployment over 80% in Zimbabwe , many people are surviving by selling products on the black market.

Mawere takes property rights case to the UK Supreme Court
Zimbabwean business mogul Mutumwa Mawere is on a war path with the Mugabe regime. Currently in the process of fighting for his companies in South African courts, Mawere on Wednesday took another action by filing an application in the Supreme Court of England and Wales . He says his companies were taken by force by the Zimbabwean government with no compensation, and using draconian measures that were put in place through a presidential decree.

Amnesty says plight of Murambatsvina victims worsening
In its 2007 annual report on Zimbabwe , the human rights watchdog Amnesty International said the situation of thousands of people whose homes were destroyed continued to worsen without an effective solution being planned by the authorities. Of concern to the group is the fact that Mugabe’s regime continues to obstruct humanitarian efforts by the United Nations and other NGOs.

Cotton industry faces collapse
The state controlled Herald newspaper reported on Thursday that the country’s once-thriving cotton industry faces collapse and the situation is so serious there could be no cotton next year. The paper said the reason for the crisis is the prevalence of side-marketing, which sees cotton growers selling their crops to unregistered dealers instead of those they were contracted to produce for.

Trainee Green bombers starving in youth camps
Recruits at the notorious Border Gezi youth camps live in substandard barracks, get very little food and may be at risk of sexual abuse, according to a report released on Thursday.

http://www.2bctnd.net/swradioafrica/podcasts/05/newsreel240507.mp3

 Lance Guma hosts another press review analysing the week’s top stories. This week political analyst Tichatonga Mwanawevhu and journalist Brilliant Pongo join him. Stories looked at include the setting up of police roadblocks to seize maize from producers unhappy at the GMB price and the police crackdown on lawyers in the country.

http://www.2bctnd.net/swradioafrica/podcasts/05/rf230507.mp3

 In The Balance this week visits Matabeleland North province for a chat with the former governor of the province Welshman Mabhena. The area has seen an increase in the number of farms being taken by top military and police officials. As a veteran of the liberation struggle Mabhena said this is not what they fought for. He believes people should be able to run to the police for assistance, not be victimized by them. Hear more about life in Mat North In the Balance this week.

http://www.2bctnd.net/swradioafrica/podcasts/05/itb230507.mp3

Dear Family and Friends,
The last time I had occasion to call the fire brigade was in March 2002. It was just a couple of weeks before the Presidential elections and a house a few doors away was petrol bombed. Windows exploded, the roof collapsed and a raging inferno turned night into day. The fire brigade didn’t answer their phone so I dialled the police. They said they couldn’t help as they didn’t have a vehicle and were unable to alert the fire brigade as the police telephone was not able to make outgoing calls.

http://www.2bctnd.net/swradioafrica/podcasts/05/lfz230507.mp3