The Rumour Mill – Diamond Days

Posted by ZDN on March 11, 2010

Read it first here! We name names and repeat allegations and gossip that cannot be published in conventional papers - the word on the street and the stuff whispered by 'an eyewitness', a 'reliable source' or 'someone you know who has connections'. Rumour and street-news is a favourite national pastime in Zimbabwe and we think it deserves it's own space. Because there is no smoke without fire! ...

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Zimbabwe Weekly Update – week ending 8 March 2010

Posted by ZDN on March 9, 2010

Politics The MDC on Sunday said it was seeking SADC intervention to help resolve outstanding issues in the Global Political Agreement (GPA). The decision will be passed to the party's national council, due to meet in Harare on March 12. In a government gazette issued on Friday, President Robert Mugabe reassigned powers from the Ministry of Information and Technology and the Ministry of ...

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Zimbabwe: Political and Security Challenges to the Transition

Posted by ZDN on March 5, 2010

Zimbabwe Report from the International Crisis Group Africa Briefing N°70 Harare/Pretoria/Nairobi/Brussels, 3 March 2010 I. Overview As Zimbabwe enters its second year under a unity government, the challenges to democratic transformation have come into sharp focus. Despite reasonable progress in restoring political and social stability, ending widespread repression and stabilising the eco...

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Zimbabwe Weekly Update – week ending 1 March 2010

Posted by ZDN on March 2, 2010

Politics The MDC is demanding drastic action against Zanu-PF youths who last week threatened Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai for not calling for the removal of targeted sanctions. The youths were marching in the capital on Wednesday in protest against the sanctions. They also detained a freelance photojournalist Andrison Manyere for filming the demonstration, but he was later released. ...

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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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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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Zimbabwe Weekly Update – week ending 8 Feb 2010

Posted by ZDN on February 9, 2010

Politics The three principals in the unity government reached a small breakthrough on Friday when they agreed to appoint the chairs of two of the Commissions - the Electoral and the Human Rights – who were named as Justice Simpson Mtambanengwe and Professor Reg Austin respectively. The South African mediation team is expected to meet negotiators from the thr...

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Zimbabwe Weekly Update – week ending 1 Feb 2010

Posted by ZDN on February 2, 2010

Politics Zanu-PF’s supreme decision making body, the Politburo, said there will be no more Global Political Agreement (GPA) compromises until targeted sanctions have been lifted. The sanctions question is not included in any conditions of the GPA. A leaked Zanu-PF working document reveals that the party wants “an all-powerful presidency” and has no intention of sharing power in the...

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Zimbabwe Weekly Update – week ending 25 Jan 2010

Posted by ZDN on January 26, 2010

Politics Inter-party talks were again adjourned on Wednesday and are expected to resume in two weeks. MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said that the party is losing patience and allegedly wants to declare a deadlock in its negotiations with Zanu-PF. It plans to refer the agenda to SADC and South African President Jacob Zuma. The MDC appears to be standing its ground on key issues it wants re...

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Zimbabwe Weekly Update – week ending 20 Jan 2010

Posted by ZDN on January 20, 2010

Politics The inter-party negotiations between the coalition partners did not take place on Monday Jan. 18 as scheduled after Zanu-PF negotiators Patrick Chinamasa and Nicholas Goche failed to attend. Talks were meant to resume on Saturday but were postponed to Monday because of the absence of Goche who was in Tanzania, reportedly on government business. South Africa P...

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