Bread shortages and bank queues in bad year for Zim

Bare supermarket shelves, bank queues and burst riverbanks -- for many Zimbabweans a bad year ended in a bad way. At least 27 Zimbabweans died in floods this month while thousands have spent precious holiday days in bank queues, waiting for scarce cash.

Zim glad to see end of 'year of queues'

After a year which saw the official inflation rate surge to 8 000%, shelves run dry and opposition leaders beaten up, few people in Zimbabwe can wait to see the back of 2007. While President Robert Mugabe hopes to secure a seventh term of office in elections next year, he is unlikely to trade heavily on his government's recent economic performance.

No tills ringing in Zimbabwe

For many in inflation-riddled Zimbabwe this year, Christmas isn't quite what it used to be. In a glitzy department store on Harare's main First Street, there are no customers at the almost bare perfume counters. Upstairs in the toy department, Santa has disappeared from his grotto. Outside, about 500 weary customers queue for cash at a bank.

Zimbabwe amends media, security laws after talks

President Robert Mugabe's government has amended security and media laws that critics say have helped him entrench his rule. The changes to the Public Order and Security Act were agreed at talks, brokered by South African President Thabo Mbeki, between Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and two factions of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.

Zimbabwe opposition still committed to talks

The main faction of Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party said on Sunday it remained committed to talks with the ruling Zanu-PF but hinted there were still sticking points. The declaration came after claims in Zimbabwe's state-controlled media that talks between President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF and the MDC were now over.

Mugabe slams UK's 'sinister campaign'

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe on Tuesday expressed his gratitude to European Union and fellow African leaders for enabling him to see off a bid to have him excluded from an EU-Africa summit. "The sinister campaign led by Britain to isolate us, including the recent attempts to bar us from attending the EU-Africa summit ... continues to disintegrate," Mugabe said in a State of the Nation address in Parliament.

Zim budget: Scant hope of 'rebound'

Zimbabwe's 2008 budget seems bereft of concrete measures to curb hyperinflation and ill suited to provide the economic rebound it promises a population faced with growing hardship. The Southern African country, facing the uncertainties of presidential and parliamentary elections next year, is in the grip of a punishing recession.

Mugabe ready for dialogue with Britain

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, caught in a standoff with Britain which has cast a shadow over an European Union-Africa summit, said on Wednesday he had no objection to dialogue between the two countries. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he will boycott the December 8 to 9 Lisbon summit because Mugabe will attend.

Senegal wants Africa to end Zim-UK row

Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade said on Wednesday he would push to create a group of African leaders to resolve a stand-off between Zimbabwe and Britain, which has cast a shadow over a European Union-Africa summit. Wade arrived in Harare after British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he would boycott the planned December 8 to 9 Lisbon summit.

Senegal's Wade to mediate with Mugabe

Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade will fly to Zimbabwe on Wednesday for talks with President Robert Mugabe in an attempt to resolve a row between Harare and London that threatens to derail a European Union-Africa summit next month. Wade will fly to Zimbabwe after British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Tuesday he would boycott the planned December 8 to 9 summit in Lisbon.

Mbeki confident of solution to Zim crisis

South African President Thabo Mbeki said on Thursday he was "very confident" that mediation efforts between Zimbabwe's government and the opposition would produce a solution to the country's political crisis. "They [the talks] have gone very well," Mbeki said after meeting the two sides.

Progress on Zim election talks, but ...

The leader of Zimbabwe's opposition said on Wednesday that talks with his government over electoral reform have made progress, but added that ensuring implementation will be crucial. He also said the Movement for Democratic Change might shun next year's election unless it is sure President Robert Mugabe will not rig it.

Lekota warns of 'real challenge' of regime change

Southern African countries face a "very real challenge" of regime change encouraged by foreign powers, Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota said on Thursday. He was opening the ministerial session of the South Africa-Zimbabwe Joint Permanent Commission on defence and security in Vanderbijlpark.

One would have expected better of Ncube

Trevor Ncube's article ("Opportunity knocks for Zimbabwe", October 5) cannot go unchallenged. One would have expected him to make use of his lofty position to differentiate clearly the forest from the trees where the situation in this wretched country is concerned, writes Ketayi Makosa.

Bruiser Bob relishes diplomatic coup

A decision by the European Union to allow Robert Mugabe to a summit is a rare diplomatic coup for Zimbabwe's leader whose relations with the West have plummeted almost as fast as his country's economy. In power since the former British colony won independence in 1980, Mugabe has shown no sign of mellowing in his old age.

Zimbabwean singer packs protest punch

Viomak's velvety voice drifts through the air like a lullaby on a gentle breeze. But her protest songs pack a punch which could mean jail for anyone caught listening to them in her native Zimbabwe. The tunes bluntly demand an end to President Robert Mugabe's rule and belong to Zimbabwe's tradition of protest music that her fans say give hope and comfort.

Mugabe rejects MDC's violence claims

President Robert Mugabe has dismissed claims by the Zimbabwe opposition that its supporters are victims of politically motivated violence, state media reported on Saturday. Mugabe challenged the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) to substantiate allegations of attacks on its followers, the state-run Herald newspaper reported.

Zim dismisses MDC violence claims as 'hearsay'

Zimbabwe's home affairs minister has dismissed as hearsay claims by the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) that MDC members are being targeted in violent attacks by ruling party supporters, state media said on Thursday. A delegation from the MDC was on Wednesday summoned to meet Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi.

MDC: Zim vows to probe violence against opposition

Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said it had secured a promise from the government on Wednesday to investigate charges of escalating violence against their supporters. After a meeting with Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi, senior MDC figures said they had been assured they were not regarded as "enemies".

Zim: Price blitz inspired 'anarchy'

Zimbabwe's central bank chief pledged on Wednesday that empty shop shelves would soon be replenished as he denounced the "anarchy" inspired by the government's order for retailers to slash their prices in half. Gideon Gono said the availability of goods was improving after widespread shortages that he acknowledged were sparked by the blitz.

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