2010 February | Zimbabwe Democracy Now

Pretoria High Court ruling recognises Zimbabwe land grab racist and illegal

Posted by ZDN on February 25, 2010

In the Pretoria High Court today Judge Garth Rabie has ruled in favour of Zimbabweans farmers whose land has been seized by the Zimbabwe government confirming that the land grab exercise was both racist and illegal. The case, brought on behalf of the applicants, Louis Fick, Michael Campbell and Thomas Etheredge by South African human rights organisation Afriforum sought to have the ruling by th...

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Bill Watch – Commentary on Indigenisation Regulations

Posted by ZDN on February 24, 2010

BILL WATCH 6/2010 - 22nd February 2010 - Courtesy of Veritas The Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment (General) Regulations [Statutory Instrument 21/2010] Introduction These regulations, which were gazetted on 29th January, have caused consternation in many quarters. Economists and business commentators fear they will discourage foreign investment at a time when Zimbabwe desperately...

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Zimbabwe Weekly Update – week ending 22 February 2010

Posted by ZDN on February 23, 2010

Politics Finance Minister Tendai Biti said on Thursday the inter-party talks had reached a deadlock and were “going nowhere.” Biti called for South Africa and SADC to intervene. President Robert Mugabe said on Wednesday the extension of targeted sanctions by the EU was a deliberate ploy by the West to undermine development in the country. But he said he would not breach the power-sha...

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Rules for our Rulers – Podcast – 22.02.10

Posted by ZDN on February 23, 2010

Last week it was reported that the constitution making process had stalled over disagreements between the government and donors bankrolling the process through the United Nations Development Programme. This week on, Lance seeks to get more information on the latest crisis and speaks to Jessie Majome, the Deputy Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, who is also the Chairperson on the Sub Committee...

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A Tribute to Mike Mason by Emma Hurd from Sky News

Posted by ZDN on February 17, 2010

On Monday morning, long time MDC activist and freedom fighter Mike Mason died suddenly. The following is an obituary by Sky News’ foreign correspondent Emma Hurd. They are the unsung heroes of Sky’s foreign news coverage – the local fixers without whom many of our stories would never make it to the screen. This is a tribute to one of those fixers, a remarkable man called Mike Mason, ou...

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Zimbabwe Weekly Update – week ending 15 Feb 2010

Posted by ZDN on February 16, 2010

Politics Jonathan Moyo was passed over for promotion to the new Zanu-PF Politburo lineup. The spin-doctor was hoping to become either information secretary or to head the party’s commissariat. The central committee was reportedly wary of trusting political chameleon Moyo enough to be part of the party’s inner circle. The EU has decided to extend targeted sanctions until 2011 against ...

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Rules for our Rulers – Podcast – 15.02.10

Posted by ZDN on February 16, 2010

With the country’s political parties having reached a deadlock in the talks the focus has now moved to the holding of elections in 2011. This week on Rules for our Rulers Lance Guma asks whether a new constitution will be able to guarantee free and fair elections in Zimbabwe. He speaks to Munjodzi Mutandiri from the National Constitutional Assembly chapter in South Africa who says ZANU-PF wants ...

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EU Calls Zanu-PF’s Bluff

Posted by ZDN on February 15, 2010

The one good piece of news this week was that the European Union has decided to retain the targeted sanctions they imposed in 2002 against the corrupt and criminal elements at the top in Zanu-PF. This is because the EU knows by now that Robert Mugabe has no intention of honouring his side of the power sharing agreement - sanctions or no sanctions. The Zanu-PF leadership reneged before; they wil...

General

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Saluting the Greatest Son of Africa

Posted by ZDN on February 11, 2010

Zimbabwe Democracy Now and all its fellow democracy movements join together today, February 11, 2010 to salute Nelson Mandela on the 20th anniversary of his triumphant walk to freedom after a 27-year ordeal as a political prisoner on Robben Island. In his first speech to the emotional crowds outside the city hall in Cape Town, Mandela's first words were, "I greet you all in the name of peace, d...

Editorial

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Game rangers free, but rift widens between Zimbabwe and Botswana

Posted by ZDN on February 10, 2010

Zimbabwe has, in an abominable act of political heresy, made an enemy of its neighbour Botswana. The arrest and detention of three Botswana game rangers that inadvertently strayed onto Zimbabwe territory has swiftly deepened the rift between the once friendly nations, and placed Botswana on the offensive. “The Government of Botswana wishes to express its deepest disappointment over the det...