Zimbabwe: Rights Reform Vital to Lasting Stability via Human Rights Watch News Releases
Power-Sharing Deal Should End Abuses, Bring Justice
Any transition to democracy following the power-sharing agreement in Zimbabwe will remain fragile unless the political leadership takes steps to address human rights abuses, Human Rights Watch said today. Any deal should immediately end ongoing violations and hold to account those responsible for past abuses.
“Robert Mugabe and ZANU-PF must show their commitment to the power-sharing agreement by bringing about an immediate end to abuses,” said Georgette Gagnon, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “They should release political prisoners, dismantle torture camps set up around the elections and disarm ZANU-PF party members and its allies.”...
from the Independent This is a great personal account on a woman who had to flee Zimbabwe to protect her self. - Kaleby, Justine ShawThe cursor hovers over the "send and receive" icon and I hesitate before pressing enter. I haven't heard from my parents for a week. Although I know the telephone line had been faulty, I desperately hope that it has been fixed – however temporarily – simply so they can reassure me they're OK.I have three new emails. The first informs that I have enough FlyBuys points to purchase free electronic products online. It has been 19 months since my husband, two children and I settled in Australia, and yet, I'm still amazed by the giveaways, promotions, sales and bonus offers.The second email is deleted immediately. It's advising me to resend it to seven... 
from This Is Zimbabwe "This is Zimbabwe" is an an outstanding blog. Thanks to them for this video entitled "Pain In My Heart" - Kale Link to full article. May expire in future.... 
from the International Herald TribuneAnother example of how messy things are in Zimbabwe. KaleAmid Zimbabwe's mind-boggling hyper inflation, a new 100 billion dollar bank note has more value as a novelty item on eBay than on the streets of the capital.The note, launched this week, is worth enough to buy a loaf of bread if you can find one on Zimbabwe's depleted store shelves. Meanwhile on eBay, the bill was on offer for nearly US$80.Notes in the millions of dollars are useful only as toilet paper and it's cheaper to light a fire with low denomination bills than with newspaper.In the political and economic turmoil since disputed March 29 elections, prices have risen almost daily. Factories and businesses have shut down amid empty order books and chronic shortages of gasoline, power,... 
from The Daily News, South Africa
Some 200 000 Zimbabwean refugees are likely to cross into South Africa in the next month or two if it becomes clear that Robert Mugabe will remain in power.
This is according to Braam Hanekom, of Passop (People Against Suffering, Suppression, Oppression and Poverty), which released a statement on the ramifications of Morgan Tsvangirai's withdrawal from the election.
"We fear that Zimbabweans will flood into South Africa, as never before, resulting in further frustrations among poor South Africans.
"The numbers we can expect, if the Zimbabwean people have no chance of changing their president, will result in massive bloodshed. It is the worst possible time for a drastic increase in migration into South Africa, it will be war," the statement noted.... 
from IRIN More than 5 million Zimbabweans will suffer food insecurity in the next nine months, a million people more than the previous year, the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) said in its crop assessment forecast released on 18 June."The Mission estimates that 2.04 million people in rural and urban areas will be food insecure between July and September 2008, rising to 3.8 million people between October and peaking to about 5.1 million at the height of the hungry season between January and March 2009," FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission (CFSAM) to Zimbabwe said.Zimbabwe's population is estimated at about 12 million people, but does not take into account unofficial estimates that more than three million people have left the country in... 
from the IndependentHe inflicted starvation on his nation. Now Mugabe has arrived in Europe for a UN summit to tackle the global food crisisBy Peter Popham in Rome, Anne Penketh and Colin Brown He's turned up again like a bad penny. President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe is back in Rome, staying in five-star accommodation for the duration of a United Nations food summit while his people starve as a result of his disastrous farm policies.The unexpected arrival of President Mugabe and his shopaholic wife, Grace, prompted a flood of international protests yesterday after he joined more than 60 world leaders flying in for the three-day conference. Although the Zimbabwean leader and his wife are targeted by an European Union travel ban, the sanctions do not apply to UN meetings conducted on UN... 
from the GuardianJames Orr and agenciesThe Zimbabwean opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, was detained again today as the government banned all foreign aid agencies from operating in the country where millions are close to starvation.The leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), and his campaign convoy was stopped at a roadblock and ordered to follow officers to a police station.Reporters with the convoy heard police say that the planned rallies were illegal. Tsvangirai was ordered to go to Esigodini, a town about 30 miles south-east of Bulawayo.It was the second time in recent days Tsvangirai has been detained and prevented from holding rallies in the run up to an election run-off later this month.The ban on foreign aid agencies was announced by the government, which accused... 
from All AfricaUN Integrated Regional Information NetworksNEWS4 June 2008Posted to the web 4 June 2008JohannesburgThe implementation of a food distribution scheme for 100,000 people has stalled after the Zimbabwean government suspended CARE International's operations for alleged "political activity".CARE works to alleviate poverty and promote community health, with a particular focus on empowering women, and is one of the largest non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in Zimbabwe. On 28 May it was ordered to suspend its operations, pending a government investigation into its activities.In a statement CARE said it was "committed to providing independent, impartial, apolitical relief and development assistance on the basis of need, to improve sustainable livelihoods for vulnerable... 
from Sky News The attendance of Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe at a global food summit will not deter the British government from sending a represenative, Downing Street said.Prime Minister Gordon Brown's spokesman said International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander will not be "meeting Mugabe or having anything to do with him" during his time at the summit.Although the Prime Minister boycotted an Eu-Africa summit in Portugal last December because Mugabe was attending, this latest summit is thought too important to miss."Our position on Mugabe is well known," said the spokesman."We think it is particularly unfortunate that he had decided to attend this meeting, given what he has done in relation to contributing to the difficulties with food supplies in Zimbabwe."The Secretary... 
from The HeraldHerald ReporterZIMBABWE last month cleared US$700 million of its US$726,9 million debt to the African Development Bank (AfDB) despite the current economic challenges, the bank has said, while hailing the Government’s commitment to honouring its international financial obligations.The AfDB also acknowledged that Zimbabwe was under debilitating sanctions, contrary to Western claims that the United States, the European Union and their allies had only placed restrictions on a few individuals and not an economic blockade on the whole country.A statement on the AfDB’s website said: "On April 14, 2008, the country paid US$500 million to the African Development Bank and US$150 million to the African Development Fund. Zimbabwe has, in all, paid US$700 million to the Bank Group... 
from Zimbabwe News Harare - Hunger is giving a brutal edge to the alleged work of militias implementing Operation Mavhoterapapi (Who did you vote for?), a campaign launched by President Robert Mugabe's Zanu PF government in the wake of the ruling party's loss of its parliamentary majority for the first time since independence in 1980. The post-election crackdown, allegedly orchestrated by police, soldiers and veterans of the liberation war, has led to widespread reports of torture, the razing of houses and killing of livestock, perpetrated mainly against people in rural areas suspected of voting for the opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change.Sergeant Mungofa (not his real name), 44, was previously stationed at the army headquarters in the capital, Harare, but within days of... 
from the Institute for War and Peace ReportingAnalysts consider how foreign aid should be administered in the event of Mugabe being ousted.By Erica Beinlich in London (AR No. 167, 14-Apr-08)If opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai emerges as the eventual winner of the drawn out battle for the Zimbabwean presidency, international donors will be ready to pour aid into the economically-ruined country.But some experts warn donors to proceed with caution, arguing that merely throwing money at the country may do little to promote long-term economic stability.“You’ve got to be very careful injecting huge sums of money into an economy,” said Geoff Hill, a respected Zimbabwe analyst.“It’s like giving a four-course dinner to someone who hasn’t eaten for a month. It’s going to damage...