The decision by the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) to suspend its participation in further elections pending Zimbabwe’s compliance with the new Southern African Development Community guidelines and principles for democratic elections seems to have taken many by surprise. It was assumed that the MDC would continue to place blind faith in Zanu-PF eventually opening up the democratic space.

The Pan African Parliament came home to South Africa this week — toothless but full of hope in a ceremony rich with the continent’s culture and talent. ”We meet in South Africa today because the peoples of Africa dared to make the necessary sacrifices to end the criminal system of apartheid in our country and thus bring to a close the long period of colonial and white minority rule in our country,” said President Thabo Mbeki.

Schalke’s Ebbe Sand scored a hat-trick and Newcastle’s Patrick Kluivert hit two on Thursday as the favoured teams in the Uefa Cup took big strides toward the second round. Lazio scored a 3-0 victory in Ukraine, Germany’s Schalke won 5-1 and VfB Stuttgart won 3-1 on the road.

The Mail & Guardian can reveal that this week’s launch of the Pan African Parliament went ahead thanks to quick action by the intelligence community and foreign affairs staff who fought off freedom of expression activists, Christian fundamentalists and a women’s lobby group.

Brenda Wardle is one of more than 100 prisoners who have cases before Gauteng courts this month arguing that they should be released on parole. She presents the fact that she now has a law degree, enabling her to represent herself in the court proceedings, as her first exhibit.