Mugabe shrinks MDC Ministers’ powers – again
The MDC-T has criticised the latest moves by Mugabe to reassign roles from ministries belonging to the MDC, to ZANU PF. A government gazette published Friday reallocated and diverted responsibilities and portfolios from various ministries and the MDC’s Nelson Chamisa accused Mugabe of trying to reverse the spirit of power-sharing.

Tsvangirai calls for peacekeeping force to monitor elections
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has said he will call on the African Union and SADC to deploy a peacekeeping force to protect voters in elections, expected to be held in Zimbabwe next year. He told supporters at a rally in Chitungwiza on Sunday that he would stand as candidate.

Grace Mugabe orders destruction of 100 homes in Mazowe
First Lady Grace Mugabe is launching her own version of Operation Murambatsvina, this time targeting 100 homes for destruction in a Mazowe suburb. Her aides claim she wants to make way for the expansion of an orphanage and according to the Zimbabwe Standard newspaper the residents have already been given notices to vacate their premises.

Zimbabwean documentary wins an Oscar
‘Music by Prudence’, an inspiring documentary about a group of handicapped Zimbabwean musicians, scooped the best prize for a short documentary at the 2010 Academy Awards held in Los Angeles, on Sunday night.

Zuma urged to arrange early Zim elections
South African President Jacob Zuma has been urged to organise early elections in Zimbabwe, because of the failure of the unity government to implement reforms. Zuma was greeted by an estimated 100 demonstrators outside the South African High Commission in London on Friday, who expressed their anger over the South African leader’s refusal to take a tough stance on Mugabe and for calling for targeted sanctions to be lifted.

Stock exchange suffers big losses over indigenization law
Trading on Zimbabwe’s stock exchange plummeted from a daily average of US$2 million to US$500 000, since a controversial empowerment law was published. The law requires all foreign investors to cede 51 percent of their investment to 'indigenous' people. It was passed through parliament in 2007 when ZANU PF still had a majority in parliament.

PM narrowly escapes serious car accident
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai narrowly escaped a potentially serious car accident when a tyre burst on his recently issued government vehicle two weeks ago. Tsvangirai had gone to assess the food security issue in Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Midlands provinces and his office says preliminary investigations showed the Toyota Land Cruiser had multiple faults, even though it was supposed to have been new.

UK resists Zuma’s pressure on Zim sanctions
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has insisted that Zimbabwe’s unity government needs to make more progress before targeted sanctions against the Mugabe regime are lifted, resisting pressure from South African President Jacob Zuma. The two leaders met on Thursday in London, where Zuma is in the middle of a three day state visit.

Civil society warns of worsening rights abuse
Civil society organisations have warned of worsening human rights abuse at the hands of state security agents, explaining that in the last three months there has been an escalation in the number of threats, intimidation and harassment against its members.

Education Minister says no child should be sent home over fees
Education Minister David Coltart has said no child should be sent home because their parents or guardians have failed to pay school fees. Responding to shocking revelations in a BBC documentary charting the lives of orphans struggling to survive in the country Coltart said that although the law was very clear, school authorities were defying the policy.

Crisis group say Mugabe loyalists still blocking reforms
The International Crisis Group has warned that Zimbabwe could slide back into turmoil if the military leadership and others loyal to Mugabe are allowed to continue blocking reforms necessary for economic and political stability.

UK labour group urges Zuma to remain firm on Zim sanctions
A British labour group has urged South African President Jacob Zuma not to call for targeted sanctions against Robert Mugabe’s inner circle to be lifted, saying that a relaxation of the measures would be seen as a relaxation of support for human rights in Zimbabwe. Zuma began his state visit to the UK on Wednesday and is expected to raise the sanctions issue with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Thursday.

Indigenisation law to dominate Council of Ministers meeting
The dispute between ZANU PF and the MDC over the recently gazetted indigenisation regulations is set to dominate Thursday’s Council of Ministers, which is to be chaired by the Prime Minister. Morgan Tsvangirai and Robert Mugabe met on Monday during their weekly meeting and agreed the regulations would not be enforced until they were brought and approved by Cabinet, as per procedure.

MDC officials to declare assets every year
The MDC led by founding President Morgan Tsvangirai has requested all of its elected or appointed officials to declare their assets ‘in and outside Zimbabwe’ every year with a ‘known’ legal firm. The requirement is part of a new anti-corruption code of ethics.

Obama administration extends sanctions by another year
United States President Barack Obama announced on Monday he was extending US sanctions on Robert Mugabe’s regime by another year. The US President said the reason for extending the targeted sanctions was that ‘Zimbabwe’s deep political crisis remained unresolved.’

Outrage as journalist arrested for third time in five weeks
The constant harassment of a freelance photojournalist in Zimbabwe has sparked anger from an international press protection group, after the same journalist was arrested for the third time in five weeks on Monday. Andrison Shadreck Manyere, an award-winning photojournalist, was hauled away by Prison Service officers, while he was filming in court in Harare.

Diamond monitor arrives in Zim
An independent monitor ordered by the international diamond trade watchdog the Kimberley Process, has arrived in Zimbabwe to determine if human rights standards are being met at the controversial Chiadzwa fields. The Kimberley Process has given Zimbabwe until June to fall in line with international trade standards by following a set of guidelines.

Critics slam Mugabe’s ‘senseless’ birthday party
Critics have slammed this weekend’s lavish celebrations held in honour of Robert Mugabe’s 86th birthday, calling it a ‘senseless’ extravagance in light of the ongoing civil servants strike and critical food shortages. The party, which started with an all night musical gala on Friday night and ended with a sumptuous feast on Saturday, is believed to have cost close to US$300 000.

Entire union leadership in hiding over police threats
The entire leadership of the General Agriculture and Plantation Workers Union has gone underground after a series of police raids, arrests and threats against them. According to lawyer Trust Maanda, the raids have been a direct response to the release of a shock report and documentary last year which the union produced exposing violent abuse of workers on farms seized by the Robert Mugabe regime.

Controversial ‘indigenisation’ law takes effect
The controversial indigenisation law that forces foreign-owned companies to sell a majority stake in their businesses to indigenous people comes into effect on Monday. The Indigenisation and Empowerment Bill was passed by Parliament in 2007 and signed by Mugabe in 2008 before the creation of an inclusive government.

Zuma urged to take ‘decisive stand’ on Zim
South African President Jacob Zuma is being urged to take a decisive stand on Zimbabwe, as he heads to the UK for a visit during which the Zimbabwe crisis is set to be high on the agenda. Zuma is on his way to the UK for an official visit and he has indicated that he will fight on Zimbabwe’s behalf for targeted sanctions against the Mugabe regime to be lifted.

ZANU PF councillor victimises Crisis Coalition team
The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition has accused a ZANU PF councillor of victimisation after an outreach meeting conducted by the pressure group was disrupted by ZANU PF youths last week.

Zimbabwean makes fresh plea for detention release
A 24 year-old Zimbabwean man who has been languishing at an immigration detention centre in the UK for close to two years has made a fresh plea for his freedom.

Zimbabwe shock West Indies in Twenty20 cricket match
Zimbabwe won an extraordinary Twenty20 cricket match at Port of Spain by 26 runs as West Indies, chasing just 106, were limited to 79 runs for seven wickets.

US sanctions don’t affect loans to Zimbabwe
A diplomat at the United States Embassy in Harare has said sanctions imposed by his country on the Mugabe regime do not affect Zimbabwe’s relations with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. During a roundtable discussion with journalists on Wednesday, James Garry the Economic Officer at the US Embassy said there is a widespread misunderstanding that the U.S. has some kind of veto at the IMF and yet this was not true.

ZANU PF attempts to block millions of exiles from voting
Millions of Zimbabweans living in exile could still be denied their voting rights under the proposed ZANU PF nationality programme. The former ruling party’s position paper on the new constitution proposes that on issues of citizenship and the bill of rights only children born in the Diaspora would be allowed duel citizenship. This paper is being distributed to party supporters in readiness for the constitutional outreach programme.

Diamond industry lashes out at KP over Zim blood diamonds
Leaders in the global diamond industry have lashed out at the international trade watchdog, the Kimberley Process, for allowing Zimbabwe’s blood diamonds to reach the consumer market. The diamond trade monitor is now being accused of misleading consumers in saying that the diamonds are conflict free, despite evidence proving that diamonds from Zimbabwe are mined under violent conditions.

Union leader back in hiding after police raid
The Secretary General of the General Agriculture and Plantation Workers Union of Zimbabwe is back in hiding this week after police raided the union’s offices on Wednesday. Gertrude Hambira fled to safety after five men and one woman, who identified themselves as officers from the Criminal Investigation Department, raided the union’s office in Harare apparently looking for her.

Ruling on ‘unlawful’ land reform to be enforced in SA
A landmark regional ruling declaring Robert Mugabe’s land ‘reform’ programme unlawful will now be enforced in South Africa, after the High Court in Pretoria ruled that the ruling should be honoured. Judge Garth Rabie ruled in favour of the South African commercial farmers who have been victims of Mugabe’s land grab campaign in Zimbabwe.

ZANU PF sanctions demo youths were ‘drugged’
Hundreds of ZANU PF youths were bussed in from militia training camps in Mashonaland Central to demonstrate against targeted sanctions in Harare after being ‘drugged with mbanje and hot stuff’ a youth group has claimed. On Wednesday ZANU PF youths marched through the streets of Harare waving placards denouncing the targeted measures imposed on nearly 200 officials linked to the Mugabe regime and about 31 companies accused of aiding and abetting the repression under the party.

Mines Minister splashes US$40 000 on gardening equipment
Mines Minister Obert Mpofu brought business to a standstill at Halsted Brothers in Bulawayo last Friday when he splashed out US$40 000 in cash to buy ‘gardening equipment and other hardware.’ Our correspondent Lionel Saungweme reports that everyone inside the shop was shocked to see the Minister bring out such huge sums of money.

ZANU PF youths protest against sanctions & ‘pirate’ radio
Exiled radio stations, labelled pirates by the Robert Mugabe regime have once again come under attack from ZANU PF during a protest march by hundreds of youth members through the streets of Harare on Wednesday.

Harare voters demand fixed election dates
Harare residents are advocating for fixed dates for elections in a new constitution according to information obtained from the MDC. Constituents in Metropolitan Harare, where the MDC holds all 29 parliamentary seats, said the inclusive government should priorities the reformation of the electoral management system.

Civil service strike losing steam
A strike by civil servants appeared to be losing steam Tuesday with most government workers interviewed by Newsreel admitting they had gone back to work. Civil servants have been on strike for over two weeks now with government insisting it does not have the money to pay the US$630 a month salaries they are demanding. Several teachers interviewed said most of them had gone back to work with no progress being reported during the strike.

Government criticised for failing media reform
The unity government has been criticised for failing to fulfill its promise of media reform in a press report that has detailed how Zimbabwe has the most exiled journalists in Africa over the past decade. The report from the Committee to Protect Journalists said most of Zimbabwe’s journalists left the country as a result of sustained harassment by the ZANU PF government.

ZANU PF supporters disrupt MDC rally in Epworth
There was complete mayhem in Epworth on Sunday during an MDC rally, when ZANU PF supporters in a three-vehicle convoy allegedly drove at the crowd forcing them to scatter, resulting in a mass brawl that left many injured. The provocation has been condemned by the MDC who insisted on Tuesday that the violence was sparked by the ZANU PF supporters who tried to disrupt their rally.

Bennett says Russians & ZANU PF mining diamonds on his farm
Roy Bennett, the MDC treasurer General and Deputy Minister of Agriculture designate, confirmed reports that diamonds have been found on his former farm, Charleswood Estate, seized by the ZANU PF regime in 2004.

Power cuts worsen after Hwange shuts down
ZESA on Saturday issued a statement warning customers to expect extended power cuts following the complete shut down of the Hwange thermal plant. For the past two weeks the country has faced severe power cuts which have affected even Harare’s business district. In the last 45 days ZESA said Hwange had experienced 25 ‘instant shut downs’ which caused damage to equipment.

Zuma says sanctions hurting efforts for free and fair poll in Zim
President Jacob Zuma of South Africa has said efforts to create a conducive environment for free and fair elections are being hampered by targeted sanctions against Mugabe and his allies.

Biti says talks have reached deadlock
Tendai Biti, the secretary-general of the MDC-T and also the chief negotiator for the party, has said dialogue between the three parties is ‘going nowhere’. Biti, who is the Finance Minister in the inclusive government, told journalists on the eve of his trip to Washington in the USA, that SADC and South Africa should move in to help break the deadlock.

Angry civil servants vow to intensify strike action
More than two thousand angry civil servants who gathered in Harare on Friday have vowed to intensify their strike action if government does not meet their demands for a wage increase.

Confusion as police officer is removed from EU sanctions list
There is confusion surrounding the removal of a serving senior police officer from the EU sanctions list, who three years ago allegedly led a brutal assault on Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai in Highfields, Harare.

Harare residents present their grievances to parliament
On Friday Harare residents and other stakeholders made submissions on the appalling service delivery in the capital city, to the Parliament Committee on Local Government, Rural and Urban Development.

Court orders government to stop mining in Chiadzwa
The Supreme Court has ordered the government to stop mining operations at the controversial Chiadzwa diamond fields, amid an ongoing ownership wrangle over the claim. Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku ordered the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation and the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe to cease operations at the claim, which legally belongs to the UK based mining firm Africa Consolidated Resources.

Govt’s mixed messages over status of indigenisation regulation
The latest newsletter from Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai says the government has decided that the controversial indigenisation legislation should be ‘dropped’. The newsletter said ministers had agreed to go back to the drawing board to revise it, following an unprecedented outcry from the business community.

Pressure mounts on Mugabe to fully implement GPA
Seventeen months after the signing of the GPA between ZANU PF and the MDC formations, Zimbabweans and the international community in general have accused Mugabe and his party of not demonstrating their commitment to reform and democratic freedoms.

Mugabe threatens to defy diamond trade standards
Robert Mugabe has threatened to defy the diamond trade standards laid out by the international trade watchdog the Kimberley Process, saying the country’s gems can be sold ‘elsewhere’. Mugabe was speaking at the Tourism and Infrastructure Investment conference which is underway in Harare, at which the country has been trying to market itself as a safe tourism and investment zone.

Mugabe finally appoints five MDC ambassadors
Five new ambassadors and high commissioners from the MDC were on Wednesday officially appointed by Mugabe, to represent Zimbabwe in different countries. The envoys are Hebson Makuvise who goes to Germany, Hilda Suka-Mafudze (Sudan), Jacqueline Nomhla Zwambila (Australia), Mabed Khumbulani (Nigeria).

WOZA activists arrested in Mutare
The pressure group Women of Zimbabwe Arise have accused the police in Mutare of going on a door to door campaign in Sakubva Township, to sift out activists who participated in Tuesday’s peaceful protests. Sibongile Matupe and Rose Rukwewo were arrested in Mutare on Wednesday and WOZA Coordinator Jenni Williams said the police behavior was pure harassment.

European Union extends targeted sanctions on Zimbabwe
The European Union has extended targeted sanctions for a further period of 12 months, but has removed six individuals and nine companies from the list. The European Union said on Tuesday it chose to extend the measures because of ‘lack of progress in the implementation of the Global Political Agreement in September 2008’.

GPA talks doomed because of widening differences
The SADC mediated Global Political Agreement talks between ZANU PF and the two MDC formations appear to be on the brink of collapse again, according to sources. The talks failed to take off once again on Monday but resumed Tuesday evening, according to a senior MDC official who confirmed talks had began at a Harare hotel.

Indigenisation bill threatens investment conference
The controversial indigenisation bill which was published last week is threatening an investment conference currently underway in Harare, with sceptical delegates questioning Zimbabwe as a safe investment zone.

ZANU PF accused of politicising civil servants strike
State security agents and youth militia have been accused of interfering with the current industrial action by civil servants. Takavafira Zhou the President of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe says Central Intelligence Officers, soldiers and the militia descended on some schools threatening headmasters and teachers who had not yet joined the strike, and forcing them to leave the schools.

WOZA ‘Valentine’ protests attracts hundreds
Hundreds of men and women from the pressure group Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise took to the streets of Harare and Bulawayo to mark Valentine’s Day, in what the group called tests of civic and media freedom under the year-old unity government. About 700 WOZA members marched through the capital city on Saturday to the offices of the state’s mouthpiece newspaper, the Herald, handing out Valentine cards, and red roses...

EU to endorse extending targeted sanctions by another year
The European Union’s council of ministers will meet in Brussels, Belgium on Tuesday to endorse a proposal to extend the sanctions against Zimbabwe until 20 February 2011.The Committee of permanent representatives from the EU met last week and decided to extend the targeted sanctions against Robert Mugabe and his cronies.

Indigenisation Minister says new regulation will not be reversed
Saviour Kasukuwere, the Minister of Indigenisation, in charge of the new regulation that requires businesses to hand over at least 51 per cent ownership to indigenous Zimbabweans, has said the regulation will not be reversed. This follows statements by the MDC on Thursday calling upon the coalition government to reverse what it said were ‘destructive policies.’ Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is also quoted in the media saying the gazette had been made without his knowledge.

Minister refuses to fire corrupt Chitungwiza council
Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo has moved to protect 23 MDC-T councillors in Chitungwiza who were sacked by their party on Thursday over corruption allegations. Chombo reacted to the dismissal by saying he will continue to work with the councillors because internal differences did not matter, and as far as he was concerned it remained a party affair and not a local government issue.

Fresh elections ‘only way out’ for Zimbabwe says Tsvangirai
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has given the clearest indication that his party is preparing for fresh elections when he hinted they were prepared to ‘park’ outstanding issues in the GPA and go for a poll. The MDC leader told the Zimbabwe Independent that outstanding issues should not inhibit progress and that they were waiting for a report from the negotiators to brief them on the status of the talks.

One year on and little to celebrate under GNU
Zimbabwe’s troubled coalition government turned one year old on Thursday, but there was no sign of celebration amid political upheaval, a civil servants strike and ongoing human rights abuses. Thursday marked exactly one year since MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai was sworn in as Prime Minister under a unity agreement with ZANU PF.

MDC-T dismiss entire Chitungwiza council
The National Executive of the MDC-T on Wednesday endorsed a decision to fire the entire Chitungwiza council over corruption allegations. Party spokesman Nelson Chamisa told Newsreel that after the executive made the decision on Wednesday, party President Morgan Tsvangirai and other leaders on Thursday took the matter to over 3000 supporters and members of the residents associations.

MDC calls on GNU to reverse controversial Indigenisation Bill
A showdown is looming between ZANU PF and the MDC-T over the passing of a controversial bill that requires all foreign investors to cede 51 percent of their investment to ‘indigenous’ people. In a strongly worded statement issued on Thursday, the MDC-T called upon the inclusive government to reverse all such destructive policies and withdraw the gazette in the national interest.

Talks adjourned to Monday
The negotiations between ZANU PF and the two MDC formations have been adjourned to Monday and there is still no official statement on the progress of the talks. MDC-M negotiator Welshman Ncube told SW Radio Africa on Wednesday that the next meeting will be held on Monday because Finance Minister and MDC-T negotiator Tendai Biti has travelled to Tunisia.

Tsvangirai dismisses draconian indigenisation bill
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has dismissed a draconian indigenisation bill, published on Tuesday, declaring the 51% black ownership regulations ‘null and void’. The Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment regulations, passed under a two year old legislation adopted by the ZANU PF government, requires businesses to inform the government of the racial make-up of their shareholders by mid-April.

CIO splash out US$5 million on 200 vehicles
The country’s notorious Central Intelligence Organisation is reported to have purchased an unspecified number of Nissan twin cab trucks for as yet unexplained reasons. Lionel Saungweme our correspondent in Bulawayo reports that each CIO ‘district’ was given 5 vehicles to use in their operations. Initial estimates put the number of cars bought at around 200, meaning the agency splashed out approximately US$5 million at US$25 000 per car.

Talks remain deadlocked as negotiations enter day two
The negotiations between the political parties in the coalition government entered day two with still no progress. The talks resumed on Monday after a break of over two weeks. MDC-T Chief negotiator Tendai Biti is quoted saying: “You can’t call these ‘talks’ because there is no talking. We are moving nowhere. We can’t make any movement on the key issues so there are no talks to talk about.”

Civil service strike gathers steam
A strike by civil servants protesting poor wages continued to gather steam on Tuesday after a slow start Monday, unions have said. Tendai Chikowore who heads the APEX Council that represents teachers, college lecturers and other public sector workers said the majority of their members are now on strike. She said they wanted government to respond to their demands for improved wages and if this did not happen they would continue to enforce the strike.

Farmers to challenge High Court dismissal of SADC land ruling
Zimbabwe’s commercial farmers are once again set to approach the SADC Tribunal to challenge the High Court’s dismissal of its ruling that land ‘reform’ is illegal. The move has come as a shock to the country’s handful of remaining commercial farmers, many of whom are still fighting to keep their land from being taken over by ‘beneficiaries’ of Mugabe’s selective land reacquisition scheme.

Talks resume Monday as SA facilitation team arrive
The inter-party negotiations between the political partners in government over the implementation of outstanding issues re-started on Monday evening, after being adjourned on January 21st.

Diamonds missing after police ‘rob’ Central Bank
Almost 30kgs of diamonds from the controversial Chiadzwa diamond claim have reportedly disappeared after being removed from the Reserve Bank by police last week. The contested diamonds, which form part of the ongoing ownership wrangle of the Chiadzwa claim, had been moved to the central bank under Supreme Court orders.

Civil service strike paralyses government operations
Government operations came to a halt on Monday as the country’s civil servants went on strike demanding better wages. According to reports there were only limited services being offered at government hospitals in Harare while the trial of senior MDC official Roy Bennett had to be postponed with court staff also on strike.

Botswana recalls diplomats from Zimbabwe
Botswana is to recall two diplomats from Harare in protest against what it considers a ‘rebuff’ by Zimbabwe to engage them and find a ‘diplomatic’ solution to the continued detention of three wildlife officials. The wildlife officials were picked up two weeks ago after ‘inadvertently’ straying into Zimbabwe as they were tracking lions that had killed some cattle in Lesoma village in Botswana.

Civil servants back strike action during Harare rally
Angry civil servants in the capital on Friday used a rally in the Harare Gardens to give their backing to industrial action meant to force the government to improve their wages. Union leaders announced the breakdown of talks with the government on Tuesday and said they would use rallies in Harare and Bulawayo to gauge their members on what action to take.

ZINASU students arrested at Harare Polytechnic
Two student activists were arrested by police in Harare on Thursday for addressing their colleagues at the crisis ridden Harare Polytechnic. The Zimbabwe National Students Union spokesperson Kudakwashe Chakabva issued a statement on Friday saying the two had been assigned a fact-finding mission to collect data on the grievances and challenges facing students.

ZANU PF tables motion to debate sanctions issue in parliament
Parliament was forced to adjourn prematurely on Wednesday after chaos broke out between the political rivals over the issue of the targeted sanctions. The commotion started when ZANU PF MP for Mwenezi East, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti moved a motion calling for the MDC formations to demand the lifting of sanctions. MDC legislators protested heavily and started heckling.

Kunonga thugs attempt to evict priest and his pregnant wife
Thugs loyal to the excommunicated Bishop Nolbert Kunonga on Wednesday raided the home of an Anglican priest in Harare’s Hatfield suburb and attempted to evict him and his pregnant wife. The resident priest Rev Matyatya was not home on the night when the invasion began, after earlier being admitted to Chitungwiza General Hospital following an attack by dogs during a morning jog.

Student beaten after arrest of 11 on UZ campus
The Zimbabwe National Students Union is demanding the arrest of a security guard from the University of Zimbabwe, after a student leader was ‘severely’ beaten in a crackdown by police and security guards on a public students meeting. Police arrested eleven students on Wednesday, including four ZINASU officials who were holding a meeting to address students’ grievances regarding tuition fees and accommodation problems.

Mugabe reduces Tsvangirai’s powers
Robert Mugabe is reported to be making moves to reduce the powers of Morgan Tsvangirai, his partner in the inclusive government, in gross violation of the Global Political Agreement.

Judge allows email evidence against Bennett
High Court judge Justice Chinembiri Bhunu ruled on Wednesday that the disputed e-mails linking the MDC Treasurer General Roy Bennett to an alleged plot to destabilise the former ZANU PF government were admissible. The e-mails are allegedly between Bennett and the State’s key witness Peter Hitschmann.

Civil service strike looms as wage talks breakdown
A strike by civil servants is looming after a meeting between government representatives and union leaders to negotiate improved wages broke down on Tuesday. The government insists it has no money to meet any increase in the wage bill and has instead promised an improvement in April when funding is expected to increase.

WOZA and MDC activists arrested over constitution discussions
22 members of the pressure group Women of Zimbabwe Arise were arrested while holding a structural meeting on the constitutional reform process in a private home in Bulawayo on Tuesday. Three days before, 52 MDC activists were arrested in Mt Darwin, when police broke up an MDC meeting called to discuss the party’s position on the constitution.

Army involvement feared in land grab
Yet another South African farming family whose property has been targeted for forced takeover is seeking the help of its own government, with the Zimbabwean army reportedly being enlisted to drive the family off their land. The Du Toits from Excelsior Farm in the Nyazura district have this week informed the South African Ambassador to Zimbabwe in an urgent email that they will soon be forced off their land by soldiers.

Anglicans in protest prayer against police
Around 4000 Anglican parishioners thronged Africa Unity Square in Harare over the weekend to hold an open air protest prayer against police harassment. The church is locked in a bitter dispute over its property with the pro-Mugabe Bishop Nolbert Kunonga who was excommunicated in 2007 after attempting to unilaterally withdraw the Diocese of Harare from the Province.

Magistrate’s conflict of interest exposed in land case
Samuel Zuze, the Chipinge magistrate, who found four farmers guilty of refusing to leave their properties last Tuesday, has presided over a case in which he has a vested interest. He is the alleged beneficiary of a farm owned by one of the white commercial farmers he convicted last week.

Attorney-general admits judicial corruption rife in Zimbabwe
The Attorney-General Johannes Tomana on Monday admitted that some of the judicial officers in the country were corrupt and inefficient. The under fire Attorney-General was giving oral evidence in Harare before a Parliamentary portfolio committee on Justice, Legal and Constitutional affairs.

Constitutional process suffering from partisan media coverage
Deputy Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs Jessie Majome has said the country’s efforts to craft a new constitution are being hampered by negative and partisan media coverage from the state media. Speaking on our Rules for our Rulers constitutional programme Majome said the state media was failing to appreciate that a tripartite government was in place, and their coverage was not reflecting this.

MDC notifies SADC of deadlock in GPA talks
The MDC-T on Friday accused ZANU PF of ‘logjamming the Global Political Agreement talks,’ and called for renewed SADC mediation between the two political parties. MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said ZANU PF is the main cause of the deadlock in talks. He said a message has been sent to SADC informing them that talks between the two parties were ‘as good as dead’ after ZANU PF indicated they would not concede to any further demands from the MDC.

Zimbabwe’s blind voters win constitutional case
The Supreme Court made a landmark ruling on Thursday nullifying a section of the Electoral Act, which prescribed that blind people were required to vote in the presence of a police officer, a presiding officer and other election officers. In an application submitted to the Supreme Court by Masimba Kuchera and five others, the court declared Section 60 of the Electoral Act unlawful, saying it contravened the constitution of Zimbabwe.

Arrested farmers remain behind bars
Two farmers, who were arrested over an ongoing land battle in Chipinge, are set to remain behind bars until Saturday, when they will appear in court in Mutare. The pair was transferred to Mutare Prison on Friday after spending a night behind bars in Chipinge. Their arrest on Thursday was in connection with the conviction earlier this week of four other Chipinge farmers for refusing to vacate ‘state’ land.

ZANU PF says ‘No more GPA concessions’ until sanctions lifted
The inter-party negotiations were dealt another serious blow on Wednesday when ZANU PF’s Politburo, said there will be no more GPA concessions until the sanctions have been lifted. ZANU PF says recent remarks by British Foreign Secretary David Miliband that sanctions would be removed at MDC’s request ‘exposed MDC-T’s treacherous role in the initiation and drafting of the illegal sanctions'.

Tsvangirai ready to ‘talk tough’ over GPA talks
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is ready to ‘talk tough’ and make a firm decision over the fate of his party’s involvement in the inclusive government. It follows the decision of ZANU PF’s politburo meeting on Wednesday which declared it would not be giving in to further concessions in talks with MDC until targeted sanctions imposed by Western nations are lifted.

Two farmers arrested over Chipinge land fight
Two farmers were arrested on Thursday over an ongoing land battle in Chipinge, where four other farmers have been convicted of refusing to vacate ‘state’ land. Algernon Taffs, Mr Z.F Joubert, Mike Odendaal and Mike Jahme were all ordered to leave their properties this week after being convicted of refusing to leave their properties.

Key state witness exonerates Bennett in terrorism plot
An attempt by the state to use the testimony of an arms dealer, wrongfully imprisoned over 3 years ago, is spectacularly backfiring in the High Court. On Wednesday Peter Hitschmann told the court that MDC Treasurer-General Roy Bennett was not involved in any terrorism plot against Mugabe’s regime.

Pressure mounts on Zuma to act on Zimbabwe
South African President Jacob Zuma is coming under increasing pressure to help break the political deadlock in Zimbabwe. Despite claims by the partners in the power sharing government that progress was being made, Finance Minister Tendai Biti told journalists in Washington DC on Tuesday that the shaky coalition could collapse if fundamental outstanding issues are not addressed.

Outrage as high court dismisses SADC land ruling
The shock decision this week by the High Court to dismiss a 2008 regional ruling on the unlawful land ‘reform’ programme has sparked an angry outcry, with some observers calling it a ‘travesty of justice’. Justice Patel on Tuesday dismissed a finding by the SADC Tribunal which ruled that Mugabe’s land grab campaign was unlawful.

Human rights group says MDC ‘shielding’ ZANU PF
International rights group Human Rights Watch has accused the MDC of shielding the abuses being committed by ZANU PF, in an attempt to sustain the shaky coalition government. The New York based group released a report noting that the advent of the power sharing government had failed to stop human rights abuses, and they said the new government had failed to repeal or amend any of the repressive laws.

Four farmers evicted by courts as land takeover continues
Four Chipinge commercial farmers have all been ordered to immediately vacate their properties or face a jail term, as the state’s takeover of farms continues. Magistrate Samuel Dzuze on Tuesday found all four farmers guilty of refusing to leave their properties and in separate judgements sentenced them to pay US$800 fines and immediately vacate their properties.

MDC denies suspending Eddie Cross
The MDC has denied a Herald story which said Bulawayo South MP Eddie Cross, had been suspended from the party, over allegations of indiscipline. Meanwhile, it’s reported that Cross may be targeted by some of his colleagues in the MDC because he is one of those demanding a full investigation into corruption. He told SW Radio Africa that the MDC were not all ‘angels’ and said there were some people accumulating assets in the MDC, and that it was important to know where they were getting them from.

MDC-T wants talks referred to SADC for arbitration
Senior figures in the MDC-T last week Friday asked its party leadership to refer the Global Political Agreement talks to SADC because they don’t believe the negotiators can break the current impasse.

Hitschmann impeached in Bennett trial
High Court Justice Chinembiri Bhunu impeached State key witness Peter Hitschmann on Monday, in the terrorism trial of MDC Treasurer General Roy Bennett. The State, represented by Attorney General Johannes Tomana, sought to show the court that the firearms dealer had departed from a sworn statement and was now ‘hostile’ to their case.

ZANU PF official boasts he has authority to kill MDC activists
An aspiring ZANU PF MP shocked party activists on Friday last week when he told them he had ‘authority and an open licence’ to eliminate opponents from the MDC. Nathaniel Punish Mhiripiri told a ZANU PF meeting at Jani resettlement area in Makoni South that he alone in the area was allowed to kill in the name of ZANU PF.

Constitutional Affairs Minister denies outreach 'suspended'
Minister Eric Matinenga has denied reports claiming the constitutional outreach programme had been ‘suspended’ over bickering between the political parties. On Wednesday ZANU PF’s Paul Mangwana, co-chair of the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee, told the state owned Herald that there were disagreements over the rapporteurs.

Rusape farmer arrested after week of harassment
A farmer who has endured more than a week of threats by land invaders was arrested Friday, for refusing to leave his farm. Koos Smit and his family had been locked inside their home after a mob of youths invaded the property last week Tuesday. The youths cut off electricity and water to the farm to try flush the family out. The gang packed up their makeshift campThursday but the good news was short lived, when Koos Smit was arrested Friday.

Speaker of parliament challenged over media commission nominees
Harare publishing consultant Roger Stringer has sent a protest letter to Lovemore Moyo, the Speaker of Parliament, asking for an explanation of the process used to select nominees for appointment to the Zimbabwe Media Commission. Stringer had been one of the independent candidates who reportedly passed the first selection process, but then had his name removed to pave way for pro-ZANU PF individuals who had failed to make it into the first 12.

Talks adjourned again
Negotiations between the partners in the shaky coalition government resumed Wednesday, but were adjourned after sitting for just one evening. Talks are expected to begin again within the next two weeks.

Constitutional outreach programme suspended
Efforts to draw up a new constitution have received another blow as the committee tasked to drive the process announced it had suspended the outreach programme, indefinitely.

Air force officer leads ‘Kariba draft’ campaign in Manicaland
A senior airforce of Zimbabwe officer is one of several military officers leading a campaign to force villagers in Manicaland to attend ZANU PF meetings.

Talks resume Wednesday evening
The negotiators in the power sharing government finally met Wednesday for talks, for the first time this year, after a number of delays caused by ZANU PF. Welshman Ncube, a negotiator from the MDC-M, said that the talks failed to restart at the weekend because ZANU PF negotiator Nicholas Goche was out of the country, even though it had been agreed that the talks would start at the weekend.

Armed soldiers and militias force villagers to adopt Kariba draft
Gun-totting soldiers are reported to be roaming villages in Masvingo and Manicaland provinces, threatening people with reprisal if they do not support the Kariba draft during the forthcoming constitution outreach programme. SW Radio Africa received reports Wednesday that ZANU PF militias and some headman were helping the soldiers terrorise villagers.

Zim faces more suspension threats over diamond abuses
The World Diamond Council has threatened to push for Zimbabwe’s suspension from the Kimberley Process, the international diamond trade watchdog, if an acceptable export monitor is not in place in the country soon. Zimbabwe last month rejected a British diamond expert, proposed by the EU, as the first monitor to oversee the export of diamonds from the country for the next six months.

MDC leadership to meet over delays in GPA talks
The top leadership of the MDC is to convene an urgent meeting to review the party’s position in the Global Political Agreement talks. The talks have failed to take off twice in the last four days due to a no-show from the ZANU PF negotiators. The MDC standing committee, known as ‘the top 12’, will meet in the next few days to look at the state of the negotiations since talks broke off in December last year.

Police officer who threatened journalist with death, named
The senior police officer who allegedly threatened journalist Stanley Kwenda with death has been revealed as the notorious Assistant Commissioner, Chrispen Makedenge, whose name is linked with abductions and torture of opponents of the ZANU PF regime.

Journalist arrested for filming WOZA demo
Freelance photo-journalist Shadreck Andrison Manyere, plus two other people, were arrested in Harare Monday after police broke up a peaceful demonstration by Women of Zimbabwe Arise. WOZA was protesting against exorbitant school fees and the crumbling education sector.

Invaded Rusape farming family in crisis
Concerns have been raised about the welfare of a Rusape farming family, barricaded inside their home by land invaders who have cut off their electricity and water supplies and denied them access to their livestock, which is also suffering. Koos Smit and his family have faced a worsening crisis on their De Rust tobacco farm after it was invaded by a mob of youths, reportedly working for a ZANU PF official known only as Mr Mukomo.

Latest round of GPA talks resume on Saturday
Party negotiators to the Global Political Agreement are expected to resume talks Saturday, amid growing public pessimism that the latest round of negotiations will finally lead to a deal. A highly placed source in the MDC said he did not expect a ‘breakthrough’.

Govt leaders urged to publicly denounce political violence
The three principals in the unity government are being urged to publicly denounce political violence, in order to reassure Zimbabweans that they will not be victimised for expressing their views on the constitution.

Police arrest 25 students over Bindura University demo
The students were arrested Thursday after a demonstration over exorbitant tuition fees which have resulted in at least 40 percent of students being denied access to write exams. 850 students were denied access to write exams after the university demanded payment of outstanding fees, which the students cannot afford to pay.

Zimbabwe to be sued over ongoing seizures of SA farms
South African civil rights initiative AfriForum has won a High Court bid allowing them to sue the Zimbabwean government over land invasions on South African owned farms in Zimbabwe. Legal papers will now be served on Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa and Attorney General Johannes Tomana next week.

Judge slams prosecution in Bennett’s case
High Court Judge Justice Chinembiri Bhunu on Wednesday dismissed an application by the State to impeach its key witness, Peter Michael Hitschmann, after he distanced himself from statements implicating Roy Bennett in a plot to overthrow the ZANU PF government.

MDC takes tough stance on ongoing land attacks
The MDC led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has this week taken a tough stance on the ongoing land attacks, slamming ZANU PF for allowing the ‘anarchy’ to continue. Party spokesperson Nelson Chamisa told SW Radio Africa on Wednesday that the ‘divisive’ land issue under the guise of so-called ‘land reform’ could be added to the party’s list of outstanding issues in the Global Political Agreement.

State moves to impeach own witness in Bennett trial
The terrorism trial of MDC Treasurer General Roy Bennett took a new twist when it re-opened in the High Court Tuesday. The State’s key witness, Peter Hitschmann, distanced himself from a statement he made when he was arrested in 2006 that implicated the MDC official.

More farmers in Rusape handed eviction notices
Five more farmers in Rusape have been given notice to leave their properties. South African Antoinette Grobler in the Nyazura district, is just one of the farmers who have been told by Lands Ministry officials that their properties have been earmarked for takeover.

Economist says financial recovery programme unrealistic
Leading Zimbabwean economist John Robertson has argued that government’s Short Term Economic Recovery Programme document deliberately ignores the real cause of the country’s economic crisis. He says the plan acknowledged the need for international aid but fails to show how the mistakes of the past era have been addressed.

UK urged to stop funding ‘failing’ unity government
The British government is set to come under pressure to lead the way in Europe, by not sending developmental aid to the coalition government, until the full implementation of the Global Political Agreement. UK based protest group The Vigil said the UK would set the wrong precedent by ‘prematurely’ handing over developmental aid when there is no evidence of any real change.

UK mining firm warns of buying ‘stolen’ Chiadzwa diamonds
A London based mining firm which holds the legal rights to mine the Chiadzwa diamond fields, has warned international diamond traders that any stones bought from the mining site are ‘stolen goods’. African Consolidated Resources, which is in the middle of an ownership wrangle with the government over the Chiadzwa claim, was reacting to a planned auction of diamonds from Chiadzwa.

South African family forced to flee Rusape farm
A South African farming family, that has been threatened and harassed by land invaders since last weekend, has been forced off their land in Rusape, becoming the third family in the area to be evicted recently. Dolf du Toit, wife Alida and their son Rudolph, left the farm Thursday afternoon, after coming under siege by a mob of invaders over the weekend.

Villagers forced to attend ZANU PF rallies in Murehwa
Villagers in parts of Mashonaland East are still being forced to attend ZANU PF rallies, in spite of the new political dispensation that was supposed to usher in freedoms. SW Radio Africa received a report on Thursday from a concerned citizen who witnessed villagers being harassed when he recently visited his family in the Munamba area in Murehwa.

152 of 300 remaining commercial farmers under serious threat
There were at least 4 500 farmers in Zimbabwe before the government’s controversial land reform programme began in 2000, but now there are only an about 300 left. In the last 10 years an estimated one million farm workers have lost their jobs and their homes. The Commercial Farmers Union says it is also disturbed to learn that there is a target list of commercial farmers and that of the approximately 300 remaining commercial farmers countrywide, 152 are under imminent threat of losing their properties.

Farm invasions continue amid fears of military deployment
Farm attacks are continuing this New Year, amid very real fears that the military is being deployed on properties across the country in an effort to complete Mugabe’s so called land ‘reform’ programme. This weekend, a militia led onslaught on commercial farms in Rusape saw a local farming family come under siege, with two people being assaulted by a mob of land invaders.

Betty Makoni exonerated over fund looting
Two volunteers who helped raise money for a young girl who required surgery in the UK are being accused of ‘manufacturing’ false stories about the looting of the medical fund. Barbara Nyagomo Mambo and Munashe Moyo Godo started an internet campaign on Facebook to help raise £10,000 required for Tare Nomatter Mapungwana’s surgery.

Nestle Saga - International Media Rapped
INDUSTRY and Commerce Minister Welshman Ncube has criticised international media organisations for their role which culminated in Nestle Zimbabwe suspending its operations in Zimbabwe last week. allafrica.com

MDC blames expats as money vanishes from overseas offices
Finance Minister suspends British branch as Zimbabweans in exile are accused of 'bleeding movement dry'. The overseas offices of Zimbabwe's opposition face a "huge" corruption problem, with £57,000 missing from the British branch of the Movement for Democratic Change alone, according to a senior official of the cash-strapped party. The Independent

Zim Gov Assurance to Nestle to End Dispute
The Zimbabwean government has offered multinational Nestlé assurances as to the safety of managers and staff aiming to end a dispute that led the company to suspend operations in the country after managers came under heavy pressure to buy milk from a dairy controlled by President Robert Mugabe's family. VOA News

Gwezere’s lawyer pays bail, release awaited
Lawyer Alec Muchadehama, who represents the abducted and tortured MDC Transport Manager, Pascal Gwezere, said they paid his bail on Wednesday and now await his release. By 1pm the bail had been paid and a ‘Warrant of Liberation’ issued and taken to prison warders at Chikurubi.

Nestlé shuts Zim milk factory over harassment
International food giant Nestlé has shut its milk processing plant in Zimbabwe, amid mounting threats by Mugabe loyalists to resume its commercial contract with Grace Mugabe’s dairy farm.

Expat tax proposal sparks anger in Diaspora
There has been an outburst of anger by some Zimbabweans living in the Diaspora in response to a proposal that Zimbabwean expatriates pay a tax, in exchange for voting rights. The proposal was outlined in a new economic blueprint, unveiled by Finance Minister Tendai Biti last week.

Nestlé faces renewed threats to buy Mugabe ‘blood milk’
The Zimbabwe executive of international food giant Nestlé has this week come under renewed threats to resume buying milk from Grace Mugabe’s dairy farm, more than two months after the group ended its commercial relationship with the first family.

MDC campaigning for targeted sanctions removal
The MDC has admitted that it is actively campaigning for the removal of some targeted sanctions placed against Robert Mugabe’s regime, just weeks after saying the full terms of the Global Political Agreement had to be implemented first.

Major diamond sellers urged to shun Zim stones
A leading human rights group has called on the world’s major diamond retailers to shun Zimbabwean sourced gems, because of ongoing human rights abuses at the Chiadzwa diamond fields.

SA opposition says Mugabe will never implement the GPA
A top South African parliamentarian has accused Mugabe and ZANU PF of deliberately stalling the progress of the unity government, saying the ageing dictator has no intention of fully implementing the Global Political Agreement.

Negotiators to resume talks on outstanding issues
Negotiators from the three parties in the Global Political Agreement are set to resume talks Saturday in an attempt to break the deadlock over contentious issues.

ZANU PF apologist smuggled back onto media commission
There are reports that Chris Mutsvangwa’s name is back in contention for a place on the new Zimbabwe Media Commission, following suspected political horse-trading by the principals in the Global Political Agreement.

Mugabe slams western nations – again – over climate change
Robert Mugabe has once again slammed Western Nations, using an international platform, this time lambasting the world’s super powers for their role in climate change. He was speaking at the world climate conference in Copenhagen, which is fast turning into a power charade, as the world’s leaders gather to discuss how to tackle rapidly worsening climate change.

ZANU PF rapist jailed in Rusape
A self proclaimed war vet and ZANU PF member has been jailed for 32 years, for raping two female MDC supporters during the violent 2008 election period. Lovemore Manjeni, who is a Bishop of the Mabasa Avapositori Church in Rusape, was found guilty of five counts of rape by magistrate Hosea Mujaya, who said the accused used rape as a political weapon against MDC supporters.

Tsvangirai calls for investigation into airport road deal
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai used a Wednesday meeting with Harare City councilors from his MDC party to call for a probe into a controversial airport road construction deal. The Joshua Nkomo Expressway is meant to link Harare International Airport and the city centre and has been valued at US$80 million despite a similar 2001 project in Chegutu costing just US$19 million.

SA urged to arrest Zim rights violators
A High Court appeal in South Africa could force the state to prosecute known Zimbabwe rights violators who travel to the country. The appeal was brought by the Southern Africa Litigation Centre and the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum, in the Gauteng High Court on Tuesday, following a decision by the South African National Prosecuting Authority not to prosecute known Zimbabwean human rights violators.

Gwezere bail hearing set for the Supreme Court
Pascal Gwezere, the MDC transport manager jailed on trumped-up charges of weapons theft, appeared in court Monday for a remand hearing, but his case was postponed to next week by a Harare magistrate. Gwezere’s lawyer said that he’s pushing for the case to be heard in the Supreme Court, after the Attorney-General filed an application challenging the bail that was granted by the High court.

Concern as Jonathan Moyo welcomed back into ZANU PF
Concern has been raised about the reaction to ZANU PF’s appointment of media oppressor Jonathan Moyo to the party’s Central Committee, after delegates at the congress gave him a standing ovation. Moyo received the longest and loudest round of applause from delegates when members of the Central Committee were announced at the end of the congress.

Prime Minister not attending Climate Summit to reduce spending
Morgan Tsvangirai will not attend the Climate Change Summit meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark this week. It had been reported that he would be taking a delegation of about 15 people to the conference while Mugabe and his entourage would number 59.

2 PTUZ members found guilty of inciting violence
ZANU PF’s selective use of the rule of law is evident again as two women teachers, Moreblessing Hliziyo and Isee Makhuyana, have been found guilty of inciting violence against ZANU PF supporters. But according to the PTUZ the facts are different.

Rights lawyer says ZANU PF’s days in power are numbered
A leading Zimbabwean human rights lawyer has said ZANU PF’s days in power are numbered, as the party has largely lost the support of the once loyal armed forces.

ZANU PF bars independent journalists from covering congress
ZANU PF has barred journalists from the independent media from covering their congress, which is fast degenerating into a fiasco following an open rebellion against Robert Mugabe.

Botswana responds to ZANU PF complaints over ‘pirate radios’
Botswana’s government has poured cold water on claims from ZANU PF that it is hosting so-called ‘pirate radio’ stations. Presidential spokesman Dr Jeff Ramsey said Voice of America’s Studio 7 was produced in Washington and is only relayed from VOA facilities in Botswana, a fact which has been acknowledged by the government of Zimbabwe in the past.

Govt spending more on travel than civil servants healthcare
There has been renewed outrage over the unity government’s expenditure after it was revealed last week that it is spending more of the country’s money on travel than on healthcare for its civil service. The revelations were made during Finance Minister Tendai Biti’s budget speech, where statistics showed that foreign travel by Mugabe and his cabinet used US$30 million of the US$126 million allocated for ministries’ expenses between January and October.

More xenophobic violence in SA leaves 6 Zimbabweans injured
A new wave of xenophobic violence in South Africa is gathering intensity, after six Zimbabwean nationals were severely injured in a vicious attack by a mob of local residents in Polokwane. More than a 100 other Zimbabweans have since fled the area and are camped in an old stadium under heavy police guard.

Police disrupt weekend Anglican services
Riot police loyal to excommunicated Anglican Bishop Nolbert Kunonga, disrupted several church services in Harare at the weekend. Kunonga, a fanatical supporter of Mugabe and beneficiary of his violent land reform programme, instructed police to bar all parishioners who were attending services, other than those controlled by priests loyal to him.

Concern raised over humanitarian crisis at SA refugee mission
The conditions facing hundreds of mainly Zimbabwean migrants in Johannesburg is developing into a worsening crisis, with civil society groups urging the intervention of the South African government.

Former student activist attacked and left for dead
Attempts to mend a rift within the national students union took a major step back when a former student activist was attacked and left for dead by a gang of unknown assailants. Zimbabwe National Students Union President Clever Bere, locked in a bitter fight with a faction led by former Vice President Brilliant Dube, says he was the target of Friday evening’s attack on Benson Matsveruka.

State blocking release of tortured MDC employee
The MDC’s Transport Manager Pascal Gwezere, who is still being kept behind bars on trumped-up charges, could find his prison stay drawn out even longer, after the Attorney General’s office filed an application challenging his bail. The High Court had granted Gwezere US$500 bail with strict conditions, but the State immediately invoked a draconian legal act that forced him to remain in remand for another week.

State media news editor takes top job in journalist’s union
Dumisani Sibanda, the news editor of the state owned Sunday News newspaper, is the new president of the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists. Foster Dongozi, the Secretary General who was re-elected unopposed, and who is an independent journalist, told Newsreel the Friday congress in Bulawayo went ahead without incident despite reports suggesting otherwise.

Fort Hare MDC students fear being sent to prison
Twelve students from Fort Hare University in South Africa have expressed fears about returning home to Zimbabwe, saying they will be sent to prison for supporting the MDC. The students’ government scholarships were withdrawn because of their alleged involvement in political activity on campus.

Budget shows US$28 million gobbled up in foreign trips
Foreign trips by Mugabe and other government officials gobbled up US$28 million from state coffers, Finance Minister Tendai Biti revealed during his budget presentation. Biti has now ordered a review in the way foreign trips are funded adding that ‘with effect from January 2010, business travel for individual ministries will have to be managed within the voted amount and the monthly allocations availed for this purpose.’

Selective justice prevails as PM’s bodyguard jailed
The worrying trend of selective justice continues to prevail with Tuesday’s jailing of three MDC activists, including Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s bodyguard. The trio was jailed for 18 months for public violence committed during the run-up to the 2005 parliamentary elections.

Zuma to be briefed on GPA talks by facilitation team
The South African facilitation team that met the three principals and the six negotiators from ZANU PF and the MDC, flew back home Tuesday. They had been in Harare since Sunday. The reports that stated that President Zuma himself would be flying to Harare on Tuesday or Wednesday turned out to be inaccurate.

Germany protests Zim violation of protection agreement
The German embassy has once again lashed out at the government for violating a bilateral protection agreement between the counties, writing a letter of complaint about the forced takeover of yet another farm belonging to a German family. The embassy last week wrote to the Foreign Affairs Ministry following an attempt by Maclean Bhala and Thabani Ndlovu, to seize Doublevale Farm in Matabeleland South, owned by a German family.

Lack of investment set to define 2010 budget
The lack of foreign investment in the country is set to define the 2010 budget to be tabled in Parliament Wednesday, where Finance Minister Tendai Biti is expected to keep a tight rein on government spending. Biti has already indicated that control of government spending is critical, because the necessary reforms, promised by the unity government to attract foreign donors, have not been realised.

MDC’s Gwezere still detained at Chikurubi prison
Pascal Gwezere, the MDC transport manager facing trumped-up charges of stealing ‘arms of war’, is still in remand prison, despite the elapse of the seven-day appeal period by the State. The High court granted Gwezere bail a fortnight ago, but the State immediately invoked Section 121 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act, which meant he had to stay in remand for a further seven days.

Media ‘hangman’ Mahoso implicated in Mutare land grab
Notorious media ‘hangman’ Tafataona Mahoso has been implicated in the forced seizure of yet another farm in Mutare, as the countrywide wave of farm invasions continues to escalate. Mahoso has reportedly ordered farmer Charles Bezuidenhout to leave his Welverdien Farm, which was sub-divided years ago as part of the so-called land ‘reform’ programme.

Internet campaign bears fruit for exiled businessman
An exiled Zimbabwean businessman who says his bank was illegally seized from him by the government in 2004 has managed to use an internet campaign to block a major financial institution from buying the disputed asset. Gilbert Muponda fled the country after a controversial crackdown in the financial sector saw his ENG Capital Limited taken over by the government.

SA and Zim sign investment protection deal, but doubts remain
A bilateral investment protection deal between South Africa and Zimbabwe was finally signed in Harare on Friday, amid remaining doubts over the future protection of investments in the country. The deal is being lauded as the key to unlocking millions of dollars worth of investment from South Africa.

Anger as FIFA ‘legitimises’ Mugabe
Human rights groups in Zimbabwe have lashed out at football’s world governing body, FIFA, for allowing Mugabe to hold the FIFA World Cup trophy as it passed through Zimbabwe on Thursday. The trophy symbolises the ultimate prize for football players in the world and is on a tour of all 53 African states ahead of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Zuma appoints new facilitation team to help GPA negotiators
South African President Jacob Zuma has appointed a new facilitation team to oversee the implementation of last year’s power sharing agreement between ZANU PF and the two MDC formations. The appointment of the team came on the day negotiators from the three parties adjourned their talks to Saturday.

MDC has no authority to shut down external radio stations
On Thursday the state controlled Herald quoted one of the negotiators, Professor Welshman Ncube from the MDC-M, saying the group had been discussing the same issues, “the appointment of Reserve Bank Governor and Attorney General, sanctions and pirate radio stations.”

Court orders SA government to protect farmers in Zim
A South African court has ordered the government to protect the land rights of its citizens in Zimbabwe, as well as to respect the rulings of the human rights court of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

ZCTU say police shooting inquiry should be led by Parliament
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions has called on Parliament to lead an inquiry into the shooting of striking workers at Shabanie Mine. In September police shot and injured 3 workers following a demonstration by over 2000 of them over unpaid salaries.

SA farmers threaten legal action over investment pact with Zim
The imminent signing of a new bilateral investment protection treaty between Zimbabwe and South Africa could be halted, if an application in the Pretoria High Court, on behalf of more than 200 farmers, proves successful on Thursday.

No extra money to pay invigilators as exams start a month late
The Education Ministry has announced it does not have the extra money to pay special incentives to exam invigilators, as the 2009 exam period is set to get underway a month late, on Thursday.

US President Obama labels Mugabe a ‘dictator’
US President Barack Obama on Monday night delivered his strongest rebuke yet to Robert Mugabe, labelling him a ‘dictator,’ while criticising his regime of ‘oppressors’ for their brutal treatment of human rights activists. Obama was presenting the 2009 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award to pressure group WOZA and its founders and leaders, Magodonga Mahlangu and Jenni Williams.

Bennett says trial an absolute farce
MDC Treasurer General Roy Bennett has described his terrorism trial, which began two weeks ago, an ‘absolute farce’ and ‘a joke.’ The MDC official said he is frustrated with the slow pace the trial is taking. He told SW Radio Africa on Tuesday that the time spent in court is very little and that they have not even done a full three hours in court yet. Bennett also said in most cases Judge Chinembiri Bhunu has arrived to court way after the starting time.

Talks resume between ZANU PF and MDC formations
The country’s three main political parties have finally begun discussing crucial outstanding issues in the Global Political Agreement to try to end the long running dispute between Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai.

ZANU PF working to frustrate civil servants audit
Attempts by Public Service Minister Eliphas Mukonoweshuro to carry out an audit of the country’s civil service are already being frustrated by elements within ZANU PF. Last week Wednesday the Minister held a press conference to announce a physical count of all state employees in order to weed out ghost workers and those earning multiple salaries.

Police officer in Bennett trial reveals investigations not complete
The terrorism trial of the MDC Treasurer General Roy Bennett continued in the High Court on Monday with the first State witness, Chief Superintendent James Makone, concluding his testimony. Makone, who is the lead investigating officer, revealed in court that he had not yet completed the investigations in the controversial trial of the Deputy Minister of Agriculture designate.

MDC-T launches attack on MDC-M for delaying talks
The mainstream MDC on Friday launched a stinging attack on negotiators from the MDC-M, branding their counterparts as ‘mischievious and insincere’ for delaying talks to resolve the outstanding issues in the unity government. The MDC-T said it was extremely concerned at the lack of urgency shown by ZANU PF and Mutambara’s party, in resolving the outstanding issues as soon as possible, as instructed by the guarantors.

MDC accuses ZANU PF of rolling out terror campaign
The MDC has accused ZANU PF of mobilizing its militia to re-open torture bases countrywide, to intimidate the electorate into accepting the controversial Kariba Draft constitution. The party says it has unearthed evidence that meetings are being convened to revive terror squads to intimidate and torture people to endorse the draft constitutional document, which leaves sweeping presidential powers intact.

SA farming union insists Zim land grab victims be protected
South Africa’s main agriculture and farming union has expressed concern about the bilateral investment treaty, agreed with Zimbabwe, which is set to exclude protection for South African owned farms expropriated by the Mugabe regime during the chaotic land ‘reform’ programme. Agri-SA this week said the land grab in Zimbabwe should form part of the agreement, which will be signed in Harare next week.

Weekend GPA talks planned
An official from the MDC-T has said there were doubts Mugabe would implement the Global Political Agreement, even if party negotiators manage to strike a deal. Negotiators from the three parties are due to meet at a secret venue from Friday for talks aimed at dealing with the matters brought to the table through the SADC Troika summit that met in.

Students arrested over ‘gun’ found in hostel
The Zimbabwe National Students Union on Wednesday reported that 7 students were arrested over trumped-up charges of possessing a gun on campus. The pistol was allegedly found in a hostel at the Great Zimbabwe University in Masvingo.

Mixed reactions greet central bank reform bill
New plans to reform the structure of the Reserve Bank, in order to restrict the powers of Governor Gideon Gono, have been met with mixed reaction; with critics arguing the parliamentary bill will still leave Gono with too much power. The Bill will see Gono’s almost unilateral powers within the central bank restricted, but Gono will still wield significant power by chairing a proposed monetary policy committee.

UNHCR clarify repatriation programme for Zimbabweans in SA
The United Nations Human Rights Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has denied running a repatriation programme that promised Zimbabwean refugees in South Africa R7000, computers and other equipment to start up businesses once back home.

Parliament passes Bill to reform Reserve Bank
Parliament on Wednesday unanimously approved a bill to reform the central bank. In theory this should reduce the powers of bank governor Gideon Gono and this is the first major law to be passed by parliament since the unity government was formed. It has to now be debated by the Senate and if approved Mugabe would then have to sign it.

Inyathi residents rally behind invaded farm owner
Residents of Inyathi have rallied behind a local farmer whose land has been forcibly seized by a Bulawayo High Court Judge, signing a petition for the farm to be left in peace. Farmer Glen James has faced renewed attacks by men working for Judge Maphios Cheda, who has been trying to force James to leave the land since August.

Civil service audit to begin November, but will exclude army
Public Service Minister Eliphas Mukonoweshuro has announced that the coalition government will begin an audit of the civil service, to weed out ghost workers.

Zim Vigil urges EU to stop aid to SADC countries
The UK based pressure group, Zimbabwe Vigil, has sent a petition to the European Union urging the grouping to suspend aid to all SADC states for ‘blindly’ supporting Robert Mugabe.

MDC-T SA executive deny sack claims
The Information and Publicity Secretary of the MDC-T South African Province has denied a Herald newspaper story claiming the entire executive was sacked for misappropriating funds. Speaking to Newsreel on Tuesday Sibanengi Dube told us a group of 3 people ‘who are not in the structures,’ but have always harboured intentions of toppling the executive, met and made the resolutions.

Tsvangirai emphasises urgency to speed up negotiations
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has urged party negotiators to the Global Political Agreement to speed up talks in order to end the deadlock over unresolved issues. Tsvangirai met with the negotiators from ZANU PF, the MDC-T and the Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, who represented the MDC-M in the absence of negotiators from his party.

Fears of Bennett re-arrest as case against him grows more flimsy
There are new fears this week that MDC Treasurer General Roy Bennett could be rearrested on yet more spurious charges, as the state’s treason case against him grows ever more flimsy.

Mugabe uses food summit to lash out at ‘shopping’ sanctions
Robert Mugabe once again used an international meeting of high profile delegates to lash out at the West for the targeted ‘shopping’ sanctions still in place on his regime.

Catholic priest beaten by soldier
We received a very disturbing report today that is yet another indication that the army is getting completely out of line. A well known Catholic priest in Banket has been savagely beaten by a soldier.

Lawyers protest increasing state intimidation
About 60 lawyers gathered in Harare Monday to protest the increasing intimidation tactics being used by the state against them, as they try to defend human rights activists. Dressed in their black gowns they braved the pouring rain to march to the office of Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa in support of their colleague Mordecai Mahlangu who was arrested two weeks ago.

Bennett Judge refuses to recuse himself
The court case against MDC Treasurer General Roy Bennett hit another snag Monday when Judge Chinembiri Bhunu refused to recuse himself from the case. Bennett’s legal team last week requested that Justice Bhunu hand the trial over to another judge, because his handling of the related Peter Hitschmann trial in 2006 showed he might be ‘prejudicial’ to Bennett.

Tsvangirai meets with negotiators from MDC-T and ZANU PF
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai met in Harare with negotiators from ZANU PF and the MDC-T Monday, to set the agenda for the make-or-break negotiations between the rival parties. The talks between the negotiators were due to begin in earnest this week, but have been postponed due to the unavailability of negotiators from the MDC-M.

Mugabe & 60 officials arrive in Rome for UN food summit
Robert Mugabe arrived in the Italian capital on Saturday, for a United Nations food summit. Despite EU targeted sanctions that restrict his travel, Mugabe is allowed to attend meetings that are under the auspices of the UN.

MDC torture victim still being denied medical treatment
The MDC transport manager who was severely tortured after he was abducted by state security agents last month, is still being denied private medical care, in what his lawyers say is a ‘calculated’ and ‘deliberate’ act by the state.

Mugabe, Tsvangirai & Mutambara meet Friday
The three principals to the Global Political Agreement met in Harare Friday to start a ‘renewed drive’ to settle their political conflict. No details emerged from the meeting. The SADC Troika summit in Maputo, Mozambique last week, resolved that the principals had 15-30 days to engage in dialogue about the outstanding issues in the implementation of the GPA and the SADC communiqué of 27 January.

ZCTU call for both Home Affairs Ministers to resign
The ZCTU has called on the co-ministers of Home Affairs to resign their positions, over the abuse of power being exercised by the police. After ZCTU President Lovemore Matombo, and fours members of the union, were finally released by a Victoria Falls magistrate, Secretary General Wellington Chibhebhe issued a hard hitting statement accusing police of acting on politicians instructions.

MDC accuses soldiers of beating up orphans
The latest MDC-T newsletter says that a dozen gun-toting soldiers ransacked an orphanage in Bulawayo last week and beat up children.

Old Mutual involved in plans to mine Chiadzwa diamonds
South African insurance giant Old Mutual, which this week admitted to being a shareholder in Zimpapers, is now also set to reap its financial share of the Chiadzwa diamond fields.

Chombo strikes again as he dismisses deputy of Mayor of Mutare
Local government minister Ignatious Chombo has dismissed the deputy Mayor of Mutare and replaced him with a discredited councillor who recently defected to ZANU PF.

Soldiers tortured to death in custody
There is rising tension in the Zimbabwe National Army after a number of senior officers allegedly died from torture while in military detention. The Herald reported Wednesday that Major Maxwell Samudzi, a 48 year-old deputy officer commanding One Engineers Support Regiment at Pomona barracks, was found dead in his detention cell. It said he committed suicide, but army insiders say he was tortured to death.

Old Mutual Zim chairman defends investment in Zimpapers
Much Masunda, the Chairman of Old Mutual Zimbabwe, has said the insurance giant is an ‘institutional investor’ and does not influence the running of companies that the group has invested in. Masunda, who is also the Mayor of Harare, was reacting to calls by South African pressure groups for Old Mutual to withdraw its stake in Zimpapers, saying it is wrong to invest in a company which promotes hate speech.

ZCTU leaders acquitted & set free
The President of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, Lovemore Matombo, and four other unionists, were set free Thursday after a Vic Falls magistrate threw out charges against them. The 5 were arrested Sunday for holding meetings with workers in the town. Police, acting on instructions from Mugabe’s regime, claimed the leaders had violated POSA by holding meetings without police permission.

Embattled Chegutu farmer takes aim at PM over land seizures
Beleaguered farmer Ben Freeth has written yet another appeal to Prime Minister Tsvangirai, to urgently intervene in the ongoing land invasions across the country. The letter is Freeth’s fourth public written appeal since the renewed offensive against the remaining commercial farming community started picking up speed earlier this year, not long after the formation of the unity government in February.

Bennett Judge rejects both State & Defence outlines
High Court Justice Chinembiri Bhunu on Wednesday rejected the legal arguments from both the prosecution and defence teams in the ‘terrorism’ trial of MDC Treasurer General Roy Bennett. The legal teams had challenged each other’s ‘outlines’ as the trial began Monday.

Targeted trade unionist out of hiding after failed abduction
The Secretary General of the General Agriculture and Plantation Workers Union, Gertrude Hambira, has spoken of her family’s distress after she was targeted for abduction by state security agents a week ago. Hambira has been in hiding after the failed attempt to abduct her from her Harare home last Tuesday.

Tsvangirai attends cabinet meeting after three-week boycott
Prime Minister Tsvangirai and ministers from his party attended a cabinet meeting Wednesday, following their re-engagement with ZANU PF.

Outrage as top SA firm admits funding state run Zim newspapers
Another corporation is under fire for its direct involvement with the Mugabe regime, after South African insurance giant Old Mutual admitted it is a major shareholder in Zimpapers.

Tortured MDC activist dies from injuries
A former MDC security officer, who was tortured by state security agents in March 2007, died two weeks ago from his injuries. Reports of his death have only just been received. Gift Nhidza was one of several activists arrested when police crushed an opposition protest in Harare’s Highfields suburb. NCA activist Gift Tandare was shot dead while MDC leader Tsvangirai was brutally assaulted.

Mbare man dies as municipal police unleash violence on vendors
Mbare vendor Godfrey Tonde is reported to have died on Monday after falling while running away from the municipal police who were beating street vendors. The Combined Harare Residents Association issued a statement saying it is deeply saddened by the unfortunate and unnecessary death of Tonde.

Judge changes mind in Bennett case
The treason trial against MDC official Roy Bennett opened on Monday and after a few hours High Court Justice Chinembiri Bhunu postponed a ruling on the preliminary legal arguments to Wednesday. But he later told lawyers that his judgment was ready and would be delivered Tuesday.

More students arrested in Bindura
Four more students were arrested Monday at Bindura University, in what appears to be an intensifying clampdown on student activists. The four were arrested during a campaign meeting at the Bindura University of Science Education, where SRC elections have been underway. The group, including outgoing SRC President Respect Ndanga, had just finished addressing students at a campaign rally for one of the new presidential candidates, Paul Dakarai.

Bennett’s trial adjourned to Wednesday
The trial of Roy Bennett, the MDC Treasurer General who is facing terrorism charges, began in the High Court on Monday before Justice Chinembiri Bhunu.

Spate of arrests further threatens Zim political stability
A weekend spate of arrests of trade unionists and students activists is set to further threaten Zimbabwe’s political stability, with observers arguing that it is clear that Mugabe has no intention of abiding by regional calls to uphold the Global Political Agreement.

Abducted & missing MDC activist escapes after 6 months
An MDC activist who was abducted by state security agents last year in December, finally escaped his abductors after 6 months. 29 year old Peter Munyanyi was abducted by 3 men in a white single-cab truck, at Utsinda Business Centre in Gutu.

Party negotiators set to meet to resolve outstanding issues
Negotiators from the three parties to the GPA will meet soon to try to resolve the issues threatening to derail the inclusive government. A meeting of the SADC Troika on Defence, Security and Politics last week gave the principals to the agreement 15 days to engage in dialogue on how to resolve all the outstanding issues.

SADC sets deadline – or does it?
The MDC are saying that they are happy with the SADC Summit and that Mugabe has a 30 day deadline to implement the GPA. The SADC communiqué arrived late Friday and having read it, it is unclear how Prime Minister Tsvangirai and his delegation have arrived at this conclusion.

SADC sets 30 day deadline to implement outstanding issues
The regional SADC Troika summit held in Maputo, Mozambique on Thursday toughened its stance on Zimbabwe by giving the 6th December as the deadline to implement all outstanding issues.

79 year old widow sentenced to prison for refusing to vacate farm
Hester Theron has been given a month to vacate her dairy farm and home of 50 years, or face a jail term, after she was convicted earlier this year for failing to vacate her farm. Mrs. Theron, who runs a local dairy farm in Beatrice, was sentenced on Friday for refusing to leave the land that has been her home since the late fifties.

Court orders treatment for tortured & detained MDC employee
Pascal Gwezere, the MDC Transport Manager who was abducted at gunpoint from his house in Harare last Tuesday, has made a second appearance in court. He first appeared in court last Saturday, four days after he went missing, and was back in court today.

Zim escapes diamond ban despite rampant rights abuses
The government’s campaign to lobby for support of the country’s continued participation in the global diamond trade has paid off, with the country escaping a ban by international diamond regulatory body, the Kimberley Process. A decision on Zimbabwe’s future was taken Thursday after two days of intense debate by Kimberley Process members in Namibia, over how to deal with a country that has openly flouted international diamond trade standards.

SADC summit begins in Maputo
A SADC Summit on Zimbabwe, aimed at reviving the troubled inclusive government, kicked off in Maputo, Mozambique on Thursday. Host President Armando Guebuza called on all the parties to the stalled agreement to bridge their differences over the implementation of the Global Political Agreement.

Advocacy group calls for SADC monitoring force in Zimbabwe
Advocacy group, the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) has called on SADC leaders to send a monitoring force until after free and fair election are held in 2011.OSISA director Ozias Tungwarara told SW Radio Africa that such a call was motivated by a surge of credible reports of violent crackdowns against ZANU PF opponents.

Zim diamond ban ‘unlikely’ as gov argues lack of evidence
The government’s delegation to the annual meeting of the Kimberley Process (the regulatory body tasked with ending the global trade in conflict diamonds) has said there is a lack of evidence to support claims of human rights abuses at the Chiadzwa diamond fields. There are now fears that a hoped-for ban on Zimbabwe’s diamonds is unlikely.

Online petition to ban Zim diamonds launched
The pressure from human rights groups and NGOs across the world is building on the Kimberley Process, to ban Zimbabwe from the international diamond trade. A decision is expected from the regulatory body on Thursday, prompting an online petition to be widely circulated across the world calling for a ban.

Party delegations head to Maputo for SADC Troika summit
On Thursday Zimbabwe’s political stand-off will be tabled before a SADC Troika summit in Maputo, Mozambique. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his delegation left Harare Wednesday morning, flying to Maputo via Johannesburg. Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara and his negotiators also left Harare for Maputo Wednesday.

Abducted MDC Transport Manager charged with arms theft
The MDC employee, Pascal Gwezere, who was abducted by armed men from his home in Harare last Tuesday, has made an appearance. On Saturday he was in court, charged with the theft of arms. Some media reports had claimed the badly beaten Gwezere had been dumped back at his house on Wednesday, but lawyer Alex Muchadehama said Gwezere was ‘clandestinely’ brought to the Harare Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.

Rights lawyer arrested in connection with Bennett’s case
Human rights and media lawyer, Mordecai Mahlangu, was arrested Monday for allegedly obstructing the course of justice, in a case involving MDC official Roy Bennett. Media watchdog, MISA-Zimbabwe, says the lawyer was detained after he wrote a letter to Attorney General Johannes Tomana, protesting a subpoena that was issued to Peter Hitschmann, directing him to testify against Bennett.

Mines Minister Mpofu threatens NGOs over blood diamond reports
Mines Minister Obert Mpofu has shocked international government delegations and rights groups by threatening NGOs and an international diamond review mission, who have reported on widespread human rights abuses at the Chiadzwa diamond fields.

SADC to hold Zim crisis summit on Thursday
Three regional leaders who form the SADC Troika will meet with Zimbabwe’s political leaders in Maputo, Mozambique on Thursday. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s spokesman, James Maridadi, confirmed that an MDC-T delegation headed by Tsvangirai will attend the crisis summit. Mozambique currently heads the Troika organ on Security, Defence and Politics.

6 farm workers arrested as violence escalates on invaded farm
At least six farm workers are being held at Chinhoyi police station on charges of inciting public violence, in the aftermath of attacks at the hands of land invaders. The six were arrested the day after five of their colleagues were shot and wounded by a man believed to be an employee of the deputy Reserve Bank governor Edward Mashiringwani, who has for months led a campaign of intimidation against Friedawil farm’s legal owner, Louis Fick.

Soldiers arrested over stolen weapons
A group of soldiers were allegedly arrested recently, for reportedly stealing weapons from an army barracks in Harare. The Zimbabwe Times said 13 are accused of stealing AK47’s and shotguns from Pomona Barracks. The Zimbabwean newspaper alleged that at least 12 soldiers had died after they were brutally tortured by military intelligence agents following the disappearance of the weapons.

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.