MDC political detainees feared in bad health
Harare Provincial magistrate Lazarus Murendo on Wednesday dismissed an application by Glen View MP Paul Madzore and 12 other MDC activists who are being charged with undergoing terrorism training and petrol-bombing activities. They had applied for refusal of remand and for their case to be referred to the Supreme Court. Murendo said the prosecutor provided enough evidence for the 13 to stand trial.
Press Freedom Day, but not in Zimbabwe
Today is World Press Freedom Day but in Zimbabwe press freedom doesn’t exist. It’s been reported that the regime barred journalists who wanted to march to commemorate the Day. Media reports quote Matthew Takaona, the President of the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists saying the police banned processions that were planned in all the provinces in the country.
Rights group urges Mbeki to condemn violence in Zimbabwe
New York based Human Rights Watch has called on South African President Thabo Mbeki to condemn state violence in Zimbabwe. In March Mbeki was chosen by SADC to mediate a solution to Zimbabwe ’s worsening crisis but there is concern that he is turning a blind eye to Mugabe’s crackdown on the opposition, which has seen over 600 activists hospitalized following torture in police detention.
Hundreds of mourners pay last respects to Matongo
Hundreds of mourners from various parts of the country gathered in Warren Park, Harare on Thursday to pay their final respects to MDC national chairman Isaac Matongo. He died Wednesday of suspected heart failure, aged 60. Matongo’s first-born son Lovemore said sombre mourners, including MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai, shuffled past the open casket at the family home in the capital.
News stories for Friday 04 May
Human rights lawyers Muchadehama & Makoni arrested
Alex Muchadehama and Andrew Makoni, the lawyers who have been defending and representing the 30 political detainees, were arrested on Friday afternoon. The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition said the two were picked up from their legal offices in Harare . At the time of broadcast a team of human rights lawyers were at the Harare Central Police Station to try and ascertain why their colleagues had been arrested.
Tsvangirai willing to discuss amnesty for Mugabe and top officials
The president of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change has said he could consider allowing Mugabe to leave without being prosecuted for human rights abuses. The statement appeared in The Washington Times newspaper on Friday. Tsvangirai wrote that negotiations for amnesty must be aimed at bringing true freedom to the country and he said change would come whether Mugabe agrees to it or not.
Mugabe threatens Catholic bishops
A showdown is looming between the Church and the Mugabe regime after Robert Mugabe gave a direct threat to Catholic Bishops to ‘stay out of politics or suffer the consequences.’ Mugabe was commenting on the highly critical pastoral letter released recently by the Catholic Bishops Conference.
Australian government likely to call off cricket tour
Australian Prime Minister John Howard on Friday said his government would cover any financial penalties that may be imposed if the national cricket team boycotts their scheduled tour of Zimbabwe in September.
BC purge backfires
A 2002 purge by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) which saw the retrenchment of 400 workers, backfired at the Labour Court when the state broadcaster was ordered to reinstate them. Lawyers for the workers applied for the execution of a judgement made in March 2005 but had been on hold after ZBC, now called Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings (ZBH), filed an appeal in the Supreme Court.
UK tries to stop Zimbabwe chairing UN commission
The are reports that Britain is engaged in a last-ditch effort to prevent Zimbabwe from taking over as chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Commission.
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