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With John Matinde

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Brian is one of the many Zimbabweans now living in South Africa. He speaks to Mandisa about the ever increasing influx of political and economic refugees from Zimbabwe and what they can expect when they get across the border

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 Tony P from Talented Music Lovers (TML) is the guest On the Pulse. Lance Guma and Brilliant Pongo play songs by the group including Summertime, Oh Boy, Amai, Happy and Satisfied. Tony P talks about the group and how they started off from the dusty streets of Braeside in Harare to the United Kingdom. TML also features a talented female singer called Cynthia whose videos are already proving a hit on the website You Tube. Cynthia will join the show next week.

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With Mandisa & John

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  Reverend Ray Pountney joins Mandisa again and he has some stern words for the church leaders that he describes as being on board the ‘gravy train’ and how they need to set examples and get back to the simple basic teachings of how we should all live as good Christians and care for each other. John speaks to Odza who contrasts the peaceful change of guard in the UK in comparison to the situation back home. Then it’s Africa on Zimbabwe and John speaks to Sociology professor EC Ejiogu about the state of the African continent, and Zimbabwe in particular.

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Political detainees remanded in custody AGAIN

The MDC detainees who have been in custody for 44 days, without trial, were on Friday remanded in custody again. Their next remand hearing has been set to 1st June. One of their lawyers Andrew Makoni said they would appeal in the High Court. The ruling was actually made in absentia as the police failed to take the 32 political prisoners to court saying they had no fuel.

University turned into war zone as police and students clash

The University of Zimbabwe resembled a war zone on Thursday as students clashed with riot police following the disruption of a campaign gala. Student elections are due at the university and several candidates had hoped to address students and put forward their campaign manifestos. Speaking to Newsreel on Friday Benjamin Nyandoro, a Programmes Officer with the Zimbabwe National Students Union, said UZ security guards started assaulting students without provocation. The students responded by singing revolutionary songs and denouncing Robert Mugabe who is the Chancellor of the university.

Pan African Parliament adopts motion to probe rights abuses in Zim

By a majority vote of 149 to 20, the Pan African Parliament (PAP) on Friday voted to send a special mission to investigate human rights abuses in Zimbabwe. Meeting in Midrand near Johannesburg, South Africa, this organ of the African Union said the mission would “investigate allegations of the abuse of human rights and the rule of law relating to the arrest and detention, assault and murder of political activists and members of the media.” MP Suzanne Vos of South Africa’s Inkatha Freedom Party had introduced the motion. The PAP will now decide who will be part of the mission.

Hundreds of Zimbabweans captured in police raids in South Africa.

ZimOnline reported on Friday that at least 370 Zimbabweans were arrested during police raids in Johannesburg on Wednesday. The crime bursting crackdown targeted illegal immigrants in the city.

A building in central Johannesburg reportedly used as a sanctuary was stormed by the heavily armed police units. Police said the combined raid aided by officials from the departments of safety and security, justice and home affairs came following reports that the building was over crowded and accommodating illegal immigrants.

Senior police officers behind torture of MDC activist

A senior police officer in Harare has been exposed as a ‘vicious torturer’ behind the serial beatings of MDC activists at the notorious Law and Order section at the central police station. Senior assistant commissioner Musarashana Godwin Mabunda, an elder at the Zioga church, was described on Friday as a Christian who openly and unashamedly defends the use of torture and abuse against MDC activists detained by the regime in the last two months.

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 This week South Africa’s Nobel peace prizewinner Archbishop Desmond Tutu called on Africa to condemn human rights violations in Zimbabwe. He urged the South African government to consider taking action against Mugabe’s regime if the situation remained unchanged. Behind the Headlines speaks to Reverend Nicholas Mkaronda who heads the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition in South Africa. Lance Guma asks him whether the suggestion of sanctions made by Archbishop Tutu could work and whether Mbeki would go along with it.

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Innocent shoppers assaulted by police during NCA demo

Innocent bystanders were at the receiving end of the wrath of police Thursday afternoon. A group of activists from the National Constitutional Assembly staged a surprise demo at Africa Unity Square Harare about 4pm, catching the police by surprise. Our correspondent Simon Muchemwa said the group of 50 banner wielding youths managed to evade the police for 20 minutes before there were running battles with the authorities.
Electricity rationing causing massive deforestation in urban areas

Newsreel has learned that the country is losing an area of green belt equal to two football fields a day in the wake of massive electricity shortages, forcing people to use firewood. Since the beginning of the year the country’s urban areas have experienced rampant deforestation as a result of persistent power cuts by ZESA.
High Court refers Daily News licensing bid to Information Minister

Authorities in Zimbabwe continued playing games with the publishers of the banned Daily News. On Wednesday the High Court told Associated Newspapers to approach the Information Minister for a licence to operate. A previous ruling 2 years ago had said the Media and Information Commission which denied the paper a licence, was biased and improperly constituted.
Communications spy bill to become law

A revised version of the Interception of Communications Bill has been passed through the Parliamentary Legal Committee which has decided that it does not breach any rights enshrined in the Constitution. The Bill will establish a communications centre to monitor and intercept fixed and mobile phone and postal communications.

Simon Mann denied bail in extradition case

No sooner was Simon Mann supposed to be released after serving a three-year prison term than he was immediately sent back to prison on Thursday. A Harare court denied bail to the former British Special Forces officer, a day after he completed his sentence for purchasing weapons without a licence.

UNDP office in Zimbabwe accused of aiding illegal diamond deals

The Financial Gazette reports that The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is pursuing investigations into whether its office in Zimbabwe facilitated the smuggling of diamonds. The report said the local office denied the allegations, which focus on a Beitbridge mine that is at the centre of an ownership dispute.

http://www.2bctnd.net/swradioafrica/podcasts/05/newsreel100507.mp3