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/ 7 December 2007
His arrival may have been low-key, but veteran Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is likely to steal the spotlight at this weekend’s European Union-Africa summit with his first trip to Europe in more than two years. Usually the subject of a travel ban from the EU, Mugabe touched down in Lisbon late on Thursday.
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/ 1 November 2007
A failed British bid to exclude Robert Mugabe from an upcoming European summit played straight into the hands of the Zimbabwean president, who gained instinctive support from his African peers, analysts said. Portugal said on Wednesday that invitations would be issued to all African states who would be free to decide themselves on the composition of their delegation.
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/ 23 September 2007
Zimbabwe’s divided opposition was pressured by international mediators into accepting the framework for next year’s elections in a move that will likely condemn it to defeat, according to analysts. The Movement for Democratic Change made a surprise U-turn last week and voted for the legislation.
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/ 18 September 2007
Zimbabwe’s main opposition party reached an agreement on Tuesday with the government on the adoption of a Bill that paves the way for joint presidential and legislative elections next year. In a surprise move announced in Parliament, senior members of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said they would not try to block legislation to amend the Constitution.
Accountant Shawn Kureva was left cursing his decision to delay buying cement at a Harare hardware store until he had compared prices elsewhere in inflation-ravaged Zimbabwe. ”The price for a bag of cement was Z 000 and I had enough money for five but thought it was not a bad idea to compare prices,” he said of his shopping trip last Friday.
With street protests banned and a once-vibrant press muzzled, dissident theatre productions are becoming an increasingly popular outlet to vent frustration towards Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. Cont Mhlanga’s satire The Good President has been playing before packed audiences — but police are not impressed.
Zimbabwe was marking its 27th anniversary of independence from Britain on Wednesday amid an economic meltdown and spiralling political tensions that have taken the shine out of this year’s event. Veteran President Robert Mugabe, in power in the former Rhodesia since 1980, was due to deliver a keynote speech at the Harare football stadium.
Noriah Masukume weaves her way through the crowded hall at Harare’s international bus terminus as she notes orders from a customer on the cellphone before boarding a bus to South Africa. On the bus she exchanges pleasantries with fellow travellers engaged in small talk around escalating prices in the local stores, their families and how difficult it is becoming for traders who go on shopping sprees in South Africa.
The major threat to Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe comes from disgruntled members of his Zanu-PF party upset with his plans to extend his rule rather than the official opposition, according to analysts. Mugabe has attracted widespread international criticism for ordering a brutal crackdown on the opposition.
Zimbabwe’s opposition movement vowed on Monday to continue with its drive to topple veteran President Robert Mugabe despite the arrest of its top leaders and the use of deadly force to crush a mass rally. The Save Zimbabwe Campaign insisted they would not be cowed by the crackdown.