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ZANU PF-MDC negotiators adjourn
                                                   Staff Reporter

Harare-Zimbabwe's negotiating parties in the talks being held in Pretoria South Africa have taken a break to brief their principals and iron out sticking points before reconvening.

Earlier reports suggest that the talks had hit a deadlock. South African President Thabo Mbeki denied reports that talks had broken down and told reporters in Pretoria on Tuesday that the negotiators had made good progress and were "doing very well".

"The negotiators are negotiating. As you know they have been meeting here now for a number of days and they are continuing to do that. They (talks) are doing very well," Mbeki told reporters in Pretoria.

Tsvangirai's spokesman George Sibotshiwe told AFP: "We cannot discuss the main issues; we can only say that they are in a deadlock and that the parties will consult with their principals. "If the sticking points are resolved then the talks will resume."
 

A Movement for Democratic Change opposition official said on Monday that talks in Pretoria were deadlocked because the MDC could not accept an offer for its leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, to be vice president of a unity government.
Mbeki, who is mediating the talks, said they would soon adjourn for a couple of days to allow negotiators to return home to consult with their leaders.
 

"They are continuing to talk. They haven't concluded and they will be adjourning shortly for a couple of days because they want to go to Harare and consult with their principals. And then they will come back by the end of the week," Mbeki said.
Senior negotiators from ZANU-PF and the MDC started full talks last Thursday.
 

Tsvangirai won a first round presidential vote on March 29 but pulled out of the June 27 second round citing systematic violence which the MDC says has killed 120 of its supporters.

The MDC says only Tsvangirai can lead a new government. Both Mugabe and Tsvangirai are under heavy international pressure, including from within Africa, to negotiate a national unity government to end a crisis that has ruined the economy and flooded neighbouring states with millions of refugees.
 

On Monday the opposition MDC kicked out the negotiating team on the suspicion that she was leaking stories to the international media. Theresa Makone who is a member of parliament for Harare North was fished out in a plot which hinted that ZANU PF was pressing for Tsvangirai to be appointed as a third vice president in the new power
sharing deal.
 

She is alleged to have spoken to an international media agency and was found out. President Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara, leader of a rival MDC faction, all signed a historic memorandum of understanding last week which discourages the parties from talking to the media in any detail about the talks.

The talks which began on Thursday last week were scheduled to last two weeks,meaning the first details could be availed around August 4.
Zimeye/Agencies.

IFJ Calls for Inquiry and Action over Death of Journalist

                                     By Blessing Chapwati
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) on Tuesday called
for an immediate inquiry into the death of a 42 year old Northern
Irish photojournalist found dead in a Harare hotel room.
Richard Mills was found dead in his hotel room on the 14th of July
while on an undercover assignment covering the crisis in Zimbabwe. Full Story

In Business News: 'Gono to introduce new currency'

U.S. TIGHTENS SANCTIONS AGAINST ZIMBABWE

                           By Stephen Kaufman [29-07-08 0800H]

Washington -- Citing continued politically motivated violence and the failure to lift a ban on humanitarian assistance, the Bush administration expanded its economic sanctions against Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and other individuals and entities with close ties to his regime. Full Story

Court orders ZBC to reinstate workers
                    By Blessing Chapwati

Harare-A labor court judge has ruled that six suspended Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) employees should be reinstated immediately with full benefits.

The six were placed on forced leave pending investigations on allegations of misconduct in the aftermath of the March 29 elections. Full Story

MOU is not a guarantee – says Tsvangirai

Open Letter from the President of the Movement for Democratic Change, Mr. Morgan Tsvangirai, on the Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding Full Story

The kiss of an enemy and the signature of a tyrant   -   Comment

Robert Mugabe and Thabo Mbeki manage to bring Tsvangirai to the table

Enemies meet for the first time in a more than decade

                                                         Blessing Chapwati

HARARE- Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and leader of MDC breakaway Arthur Mutambara on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding to lay down the framework for formal talks aimed to find a solution to end the country’s political crisis. Full Story

US State Department waiting to observe "the evolution of this process"

Washington -- The Bush administration will be closely watching talks between Zimbabwe's political factions in Harare, according to a State Department spokesman, who also voiced U.S. support for a negotiation process "that leads to a result that expresses the will of the Zimbabwean people. Full Story

ZAPU has not been swallowed by Zanu PF: Msika

                                                            By Sibusiso Moyo 19-07-08  0800

Bulawayo - Out spoken Vice-President of Zimbabwe Joseph Msika has declared that any party supporter from Matabeleland who rushes to de-campaign others in search of favours from President Mugabe will not be included in any of ZANU PF led government.

Msika was speaking at a meeting held at his general dealership
business in Bulawayo's Gumtree market gardening area last week Wednesday. Mr Msika thinly veiled attack on the duo of Obert Mpofu the Minister of Industry and Trade and war veterans' leader Jabulani Sibanda. He declared that ZAPU which merged with ZANU PF in 1987 had not been swallowed by ZANU and was still in existence within the Robert Mugabe led ZANU PF. Full Story

Neither Tsvangirai nor Mugabe should be part of Transitional Government - Civil Society
                                     Staff Reporter

Zimbabwe's civil society has rejected a transitional government with a power sharing agreement between the country's main political parties. The civil society grouping said any transitional government should people driven and be headed by neutral parties neither from the current political formations. Full Story

State fails to prosecute activists

                                               Blessing Chapwati

HARARE –Fifteen opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) activists and a journalist who are facing charges of political violence were on Monday acquitted by a Harare magistrate court. Full Story

DISAPPOINTED U.S. OFFICIALS PLEDGE TO CONTINUE EFFORTS TO STOP VIOLENCE

                                    By Stephen Kaufman, Staff Writer

Washington -- Expressing disappointment at the failure of the U.N. Security Council to adopt a resolution condemning and sanctioning Zimbabwe’s leaders, U.S. officials said they will continue to seek ways to pressure President Robert Mugabe’s government to end the violence against its political opposition and engage it in serious negotiations. Full Story

Zimbabweans join in prayer for the nation

By a Correspondent Vigil members took a leading role today in a service at Parliament’s own parish church, St Margaret’s, next to Westminster Abbey, addressed by the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu. Full Story

Zim-High Court strikes off Biti's bail conditions

The Zimbabwe High Court has struck off bail conditions for opposition Movement for Democratic Change Tendai Biti to allow him to attend talks between his party and ZANU PF in South Africa. Full Story

Italy gives in to Mugabe's fist of foolery

                                                      Special Report - ZimEye

TOYAKO, Japan- Italian Prime Minister has suggested a compromise deal between Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and the opposition to end the political crisis rather than sanctions.

Full Story
 
 

        Mugabe's 100% indigenous empowerment
                                                               

Disgruntlement...Mugabe's campaigning poster in the 27 June presidential election plastered with messages of disgruntlement. Mugabe intends to seize shareholding from foreign owned companies and give them to indigenous people. 100 % empowerment was his trump card in the June election.

Tsvangirai boycotts meeting with Mbeki
                                                           Staff Reporter

Harare - Zimbabwe’s opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai boycotted a meeting with South African President Thabo Mbeki and President Robert Mugabe on Saturday demanding that if any talks are to be held there has to be a representative from the African Union. Full Story

No AU mediator no negotiations-MDC
                                       By Blessing Chapwati
Zimbabwe's opposition leader says his party will not be part of a
mediation process that does not include a permanent representative from the African Union. Full Story

Mugabe admits his illegitimacy

                                                        By Walter Chirombo

Egypt – In an interview with an ITN News  jounalist Mr Mugabe was asked: '

'On what basis do you still call yourself President of Zimbabwe?'

His answer was in nine simple words... Full Story

Election falls short of standards-AU

HARARE – The African Union observer mission has added voice in condemning Friday's presidential election in which President Robert Mugabe was declared winner saying the electoral process fell short of accepted AU standards. Full Story

Election observers condemn Mugabe's election

     - PAP calls for a transitional government -

                                                  By Blessing Chapwati

The Pan-African Parliament election observer mission to the Presidential run-off in Zimbabwe has declared the recently held poll as not free and fair in view of the political environment which prevailed in the country in the run up to Friday's poll. Full Story

Official results - Presidential election

Below are the official results from the Presidential elections.

Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out of the elections 5 day before election day but the Electoral Commission said his withdrawal was a nullity and his name remained on the ballot. Full Story 

Jonathan Moyo bouncing back to Zanu PF?

                                        Special Report by Tracy Sibanda                                         

Jonathan Moyo is bouncing back to Zanu PF and government .Although he did not say it clearly the former minister of information and publicity really did speak as if he is still the boss in the propaganda ministry. Full Story

China and Russia rule against Mugabe

                                         Blessing Chapwati, Harare 24-06-08 1915

Robert Mugabe's allies China and Russia have on record come out against the despotic ruler, signing their affirmation against Friday's poll.  Full Story

Nkomo is whisked out by CIO agents

                        By Tracy Sibanda 23-06-2008 0500

John Nkomo was whisked out of the Bulawayo Rainbow hotel within ten minutes of the president's speech on Friday the 20th. Full Story

Enough evidence for treason charge?

                                                       By Tracy Sibanda

Bulawayo -The government has enough evidence to convict the entire MDC leadership on treason charges but is avoiding bringing Tsvangirai and his resurgent MDC faction to book lest this would be viewed by critics as part of ZANU PF's re-election strategy. This was  said by the minister of Information and Publicity Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu on the 12 of June during his campaign rally at the Mpopoma ZANU PF office. Full Story

UN ENVOY ARRIVES IN ZIM
                                                             Staff Reporter

The United Nations envoy to Zimbabwe assistant secretary general for political affairs Haile Menkerios arrived in Zimbabwe on Monday evening on a five day visit to access the political and humanitarian situation in the country ahead of the June 27 presidential election. Full Story

Police fail to bring Biti to court

                                       Blessing Chapwati

Zimbabwe police failed to bring jailed opposition MP and party Secretary General Tendai Biti to court on Monday as they levelled new charges against him.

Biti's lawyer Lewis Uriri said in addition to the charges of treason and malicious falsehoods, police were now charging Biti for insulting president Robert Mugabe, and for attempting to cause disaffection among the security forces. Full Story

Zimbabwe's Run-off Election May Be Abandoned, City Press Reports

                                                               By a Correspondent

Zimbabwe’s presidential election run- off which was scheduled for June 27 may be scrapped next week, City Press reported, citing no-one. Full Story

Biti finally appears in court

                                          Staff Reporter    [14-06-20008]

The Movement for Democratic Change, Secretary General Tendai Biti has finally been brought to court following a high court order and is expected to appear at the Harare magistrate's court for initial remand on Monday the 16^th of June. Full Story

Chegutu MDC MP's arrested house destroyed by Zanu PF supporters.

                                           Staff Reporter  13-06-2008

The MP elect for Chegutu West Takalani Matibe has been arrested and his home destroyed after opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai had visited his home in Chegutu on Thursday morning. Full Story

ZESA manager found dead in CIO hands

Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority ZESA area manager for Chiredzi Town, Dumisani Hapazari was on Monday found dead after being taken away by two officers from the Central Intelligence Organisation from his workplace last week. Full Story

COMMENT: As the whole world looks upon Zimbabwe's spiral terrain, many Zimbabweans local and abroad ebb into the silence, as Africa's leaders suck the juices of political power down their throats. We join with the many who are victims of their ploys. By Simbarashe Chikanza Zim Vigil Announcements Click HERE!

MDC government to reform national institutions

                                                  Staff Reporter

Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai says the first session of parliament with the Movement for Democratic Change as the ruling party will pass legislation that to reform national institutions, the central bank and the setting up of a land commission, and a democratic constitutional reform process. Full Story