Zimbabwe’s main journalist organization says police have arrested four journalists while they were covering a story about a police officer. The head of the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists, Foster Dongozi, said the four were detained by police Friday while they were reporting on the eviction of a police officer north of the city of Bulawayo. […]
Zimbabwe Court Dismisses Corruption Charges Against Minister
Posted June 28th, 2011 at 12:30 pm (UTC-5)
Zimbabwe’s High Court has acquitted the country’s energy minister of corruption charges, saying the state failed to produce evidence against him. Elton Mangoma was accused of bypassing purchasing procedures when he secured a $5 million fuel order from South Africa. Harare High Court Judge Chinembiri Bhunu dismissed the charges Tuesday, saying state witnesses had confirmed […]
Zimbabwean Judge Orders Release of PM Ally
Posted June 26th, 2011 at 10:15 am (UTC-5)
A Zimbabwean judge has ordered the release of a Cabinet minister who was arrested for calling President Robert Mugabe a liar. Jameson Timba, a senior aide to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, was arrested in Harare Friday on allegations he had undermined Mr. Mugabe’s authority. High Court judge Joseph Musakwa said Sunday that police had violated […]
Watchdog Group Divided Over Approval of Zimbabwe Diamond Exports
Posted June 24th, 2011 at 3:30 pm (UTC-5)
A global diamond monitoring group has found itself divided over a decision to allow Zimbabwe to sell diamonds from one of its controversial fields. The Kimberley Process, which aims to prevent so-called “conflict diamonds” from entering the market, has approved the sale of the Zimbabwe gems from its Marange field. However, the watchdog group is […]
Zimbabwe Arrests Another Tsvangirai Ally
Posted June 24th, 2011 at 2:00 pm (UTC-5)
For the third time this year, Zimbabwe police have arrested a Cabinet minister from Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change. The MDC said police arrested Jameson Timba in Harare Friday on allegations he had undermined the authority of President Robert Mugabe of ZANU-PF. A police spokesman in Harare confirmed the arrest but said […]
Zimbabwe Shuns Kimberley Process Diamond Restrictions
Posted June 22nd, 2011 at 2:30 pm (UTC-5)
Zimbabwe’s mining minister says he will no longer discuss whether his country can sell its diamonds, as international meetings on conflict diamonds continue this week. Mines Minister Obert Mpofu told VOA Zimbabwe has fully complied with international requests to improve its human rights conditions at the Marange diamond fields. He says Zimbabwe will resist attempts […]
Zimbabwe Teachers Set to Strike Wednesday
Posted June 22nd, 2011 at 1:30 am (UTC-5)
A union spokesman in Zimbabwe says teachers at state run schools are planning to strike Wednesday, primarily over demands for better pay. The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe is calling on the government to increase teacher salaries from $200 a month to $500. The union also wants the government to review housing and transport allowances […]
Neighbors Urge Zimbabwe to Speed Up Reforms
Posted June 13th, 2011 at 9:55 am (UTC-5)
Southern African leaders have urged Zimbabwe’s fragile unity government to speed up reforms so that free and fair elections can be held. In a statement released late Sunday, the Southern African Development Community said Zimbabwe must create a political environment that includes “a level playing field” for elections. The regional bloc released the statement after […]
African Leaders Guide Zimbabwe Toward Elections
Posted June 11th, 2011 at 6:10 am (UTC-5)
African leaders are meeting in Zimbabwe Saturday to lay out a roadmap for the country’s presidential elections. Members of the Southern African Development Community want to delay elections until a new constitution is adopted. Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and his majority ZANU-PF party insist elections be held this year. Mr. Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe […]
Bread Shortages Reported in Zimbabwe’s Capital
Posted June 8th, 2011 at 10:55 am (UTC-5)
State media are reporting a bread shortage in Zimbabwe’s capital, where a major bread-making factory shut down this week. The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation says Lobel’s bakery is struggling with a huge debt, and will be closed for the next two months while it tries to arrange new financing from a potential investor. ZBC says the […]
