Friends of Zim are committed to bringing about a peaceful transition to a new democratic government in Zimbabwe and an end to the increasingly tyrannical and corrupt rule of Robert Mugabe.
We launched FriendsofZim.com because we believe the best way forward is for the people of Zimbabwe to determine their leader through a free and fair election. Following the March 29th vote, Robert Mugabe embarked on a campaign of terror, beatings and murder.
Mar
29
This week the World Health Organization released updated numbers for the cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe. Cases remain steady, but are leveling off from the most dramatic increases seen in late 2008.
Date: 27 Mar 2009
* Please note that daily information collection is a challenge due to communication and staff constraints. On-going data cleaning may result in an increase or decrease in the numbers. Any change will then be explained.
** Daily information on new deaths should not imply that these deaths occurred in cases reported that day. Therefore daily CFRs >100% may occasionally resultA. Highlights of the day:
- 208 Cases and 5 deaths added today (in comparison with 228 cases and 8 deaths yesterday)
- 75% of the districts affected have reported today 45 out of 60 affected
districts)- 91.9 % of districts reported to be affected (57 districts out of 62)
- Cumulative Institutional Case Fatality Rate 1.7%
- Daily Institutional CFR = 2.4%
Mar
22
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Mar
12
Roy Bennett released
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From MDC press release:
MDC Pressroom - MDC National Treasurer and Deputy Agriculture Minister – designate, Hon. Roy Bennett who was yesterday granted a US$5 000 bail was this morning released from Mutare Prison.
Thousands of MDC supporters thronged the prison to witness the release of Hon. Bennett, who walked out of detention at exactly 11.04 AM today after spending a month in prison on trumped charges of banditry and terrorism.
Bennett, who was in high spirits waved and shook hands with the MDC supporters, who had been signing and dancing since morning awaiting his release.
Hon Bennet, who was appointed deputy minister of Agriculture, told journalists at the MDC’s provincial office in Mutare that he was ready to take up any post given to him by the party and the people of Zimbabwe.
He said he had no hard feelings over anyone who had stood in the way of the legal process to have him get his freedom. Hon Bennet expressed his concern over the massive starvation in the prisons, where people are eating sadza with salted water. He said five people had died while he was in prison. MDC supporters have been keeping a vigil at the prison since Hon Bennet’s arrest.
The Supreme Court yesterday dismissed the State’s appeal against High Court decision granting Hon. Bennett bail but increased the bail money from US$2 000 to US$5 000. As part of his stringent bail conditions, Hon Bennet will report three times a week at Harare Central Police Station and has surrendered his travel documents and the title deeds of his property to the Clerk of court.
Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku threw out the State’s appeal to set aside the lower court’s ruling to deny Hon. Bennett bail.
Hon. Bennett, who is facing trumped up charges of possessing dangerous weapons for purposes of insurgency, banditry and terrorism, has been in custody since February 13 this year, when he was arrested at Charles Prince Airport in Harare on his way to South Africa. He was granted US$2 000 bail by the High Court on February 24 but remained in custody after the State was granted seven days to lodge its appeal against the court’s decision.
However, the State unsuccessfully sought leave to appeal against the granting of Bennett bail at the High Court, before it was given the right to appeal at the Supreme Court last week.
Mar
6
Tsvangirai family rocked by death of wife, mother Susan Tsvangirai
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From CNN-
HARARE, Zimbabwe (CNN) – Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s wife, Susan, was killed Friday in a car wreck that also left him injured, according to senior officials with his party.
President Robert Mugabe visited Tsvangirai — his long-time political rival — at a Harare hospital, according to a reporter at the scene.
Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader, took office last month under a power-sharing deal with Mugabe following a contentious election.
Tsvangirai’s aide and driver also were injured in the head-on collision with a large truck, according to Tsvangirai’s spokesman, James Maridadi.
All four were taken to the hospital but the conditions of the driver and aide were not immediately known.
State media reported Tsvangirai suffered head and neck injuries but his Movement for Democratic Change party has not confirmed that.
MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa told CNN he spoke to Tsvangirai at the hospital and he was in a “relatively stable” condition.
An MDC spokesman describes ‘critical’ accident »
He added: “We are still trying to examine the extent of the impact of this tragedy in terms of human life.”
Chamisa would neither confirm nor deny reports from other MDC officials that Susan Tsvangirai died in the wreck, which he described as “very serious.”
The collision happened on the Harare-Masvingo Road as Tsvangirai and his wife headed to his hometown of Buhera, south of the capital, Harare, his spokesman said.
The MDC reached a power-sharing agreement with Mugabe in September after months of angry dispute that included violence.
More than 200 deaths, mainly those of opposition supporters, were reported leading up to and in the aftermath of the election.
And the political atmosphere remains acrimonious after the MDC’s choice to be deputy agriculture minister was arrested.
One analyst who studies the region said the circumstances behind the crash could “exacerbate” the fragile unity government.
“There will undoubtedly be suspicions about the cause of the crash and whether there was foul play involved,” according to Jennifer Cooke, director of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
“At a time when there needs to be confidence-building measures, this incident potentially raises suspicions and undermines the potential for greater cohesion of the government. (There is) huge potential for the agreement to be manipulated by Mugabe.”
Chamisa said it was too early to determine if foul play may have been behind Friday’s wreck, which he called an accident.
Cooke described Susan Tsvangirai as “an example of the quiet fortitude of the Zimbabwean people throughout the duration of the country’s crisis and collapse.”
“She stood by her husband for over 30 years,” Cooke said. “She’s watched him be beaten and imprisoned. Now at this somewhat hopeful moment where her husband has been sworn in as prime minister, it’s unfortunate she doesn’t ultimately get to see an end to the crisis.”
Tsvangirai and Susan, who were married in 1978, have six children, according to the British Broadcasting Corporation.
Last month, she told a BBC affiliate that the past decade had been an “endurance test” for her husband and his MDC colleagues.
“People went through hell, but they stuck to their ideals to seek change through democratic means,” she said. “This was a struggle that we endured with MDC cadres, activists, supporters and peace-loving Zimbabweans.
“To them I say thank you so much for the support they gave the MDC to reach this momentous period.”
Mar
6
Zimbabwe magistrate held for allowing Roy Bennett to post bail
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Police in Zimbabwe have arrested a magistrate who ordered the release of MDC ministerial nominee Roy Bennett.
Other magistrates in the town of Mutare have gone on strike in solidarity with Livingstone Chipadze, officials say.
“It is frightening if a magistrate is arrested because he has passed a judgment that is not popular with the state,” Mr Bennett’s lawyer said.
Mr Bennett remains in custody. He was seized on the day MDC ministers joined a power-sharing government.
He is accused of links to an alleged plot to kill President Robert Mugabe.
But the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says the arrest is a political manoeuvre by hard-line supporters of Mr Mugabe to destabilise the unity administration.
Warrant seized
Zimbabwean journalist David Farira in Mutare, on Zimbabwe’s eastern border, says Mr Chipadze faces charges of criminal abuse of office.
Magistrate Chipadze is accused of improperly allowing Mr Bennett’s lawyers to post bail of $2,000 and complying with other bail conditions on Tuesday.
ROY BENNETT
Farmer
2000: Elected MP
2004: Jailed after pushing minister in parliament
2006: Accused of plot to kill President Mugabe
2006: Fled to South Africa
2009: Nominated as deputy agriculture minister
2009: Arrested
After the bail money and his passport had been deposited with the Clerk of Court, a warrant to free Mr Bennett was issued.
Mr Farira told the BBC the warrant was immediately seized by a senior prison official, who then disappeared with it.
It is not immediately clear when Mr Chipadze will be taken to court.
Mr Bennett was granted bail by the High Court last week but the Attorney General office immediately appealed against the ruling.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed the appeal to proceed and ruled that Mr Bennett would remain in custody until the case was heard.
Mr Bennett is a white farmer, whose land has been seized under Mr Mugabe’s land reform programme. Some of his employees were killed and assaulted during the violence.
An MP since 2000, he was jailed in 2004 after pushing a minister in parliament during a heated debate about land reform.
After being accused of links to the alleged plot to kill Mr Mugabe in 2006, he fled to South Africa, saying he feared for his life.
Long-time rivals President Robert Mugabe and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai last month formed a unity government after months of wrangling.
They pledged to make reviving the economy a top priority, but analysts say Mr Bennett’s arrest is causing serious difficulties for the fledgling administration.
Mar
3
Via MDC Press Release — The High Court today dismissed a State application to deny bail to MDC Treasurer General and Deputy Agriculture Minister designate, who is facing trumped up charges of banditry, terrorism and treason.
Last week Hon. Bennett was granted bail by the High Court but the State appealed against the order. Today High Court judge, Justice Tedius Karwi threw out the State application.
However, the MDC lawyers feared that the State would not comply with the order after prosecutors were seen at the Attorney General’s Office apparently seeking new orders.
The MDC lawyers were planning to file another urgent application tomorrow at the Supreme Court if the State failed to comply with today’s High Court order.
Hon. Bennett was arrested at the Charles Prince Airport in Harare on his way to South Africa on 13 February 2009.
Hon. Bennett was set to be sworn in as deputy Agriculture Minister on 19 February 2009.
The MDC views the arrest of Hon. Bennett on trumped up charges as politically motivated. It further threatens the spirit of unity and cohesion in the inclusive government which many had Zimbabweans hope would bring a fresh impetus to our country’s battered image.
Meanwhile, a total of 10 MDC and civil society activists who have been languishing in remand prison since last year have been released from prison while another three of them are still in remand after failing to meet the stringent bail conditions.
Another three, MDC head of security, Chris Dhlamini, Ghandi Mudzingwa and journalist Andreson Manyere are still in remand after they were denied bail.
Via MDC Press Release
Feb
27
VP implicated in scheme to evade international sanctions
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One of the richest and most powerful people in Zimbabwe has been trying to sell gold in Europe in a deal stretching from Nairobi to Zurich - the BBC has learned - in defiance of international sanctions.
The vice-president of Zimbabwe, Joyce Mujuru, with her husband Solomon, are among a small elite who have prospered in Zimbabwe as the rest of the country plunges into ever-deeper economic chaos.
As most of the country suffers - UN estimates suggest up to 75% of Zimbabweans need food aid, while unemployment is put at more than 90% - they and their ilk have become very wealthy.
Despite EU sanctions against Zimbabwe being in place since 2002, and extended this year, Mrs Mujuru has allegedly been trying to fund a multi-million gold deal in Europe, the BBC has uncovered.
She was involved in a planned deal to sell almost four tonnes of Congolese gold to a company called Firstar.
Feb
14
Early yesterday, before taking his post as Minister of Agriculture, Roy Bennett was arrested, taken to one of Mugabe’s infamous torture prisons and is currently being held and charged with treason.
This is the latest we know, via press release, from the MDC:
It is understood that the abduction, arrest and charging of MDC Treasurer General and Deputy Minister of Agriculture designate Roy Bennett is being planned, directed and operationalised by the Zimbabwe Military Intelligence Directorate (MID), led by one Mzilikazi, and the Special Agency SAS, the torture unit of the army, led by one Manene . General Constantine Chiwenga is also party to it.
These people are known for their declared passionate and fanatical hatred of Roy Bennett.
We are also aware of an intent to dump Roy Bennett into Chivero river. It is futile and ill-considered for anyone to go against the very momentum of history. Change in Zimbabwe is inevitable. Bravado akin to ridding on top of a hungry lion in a time of unprecedented famine, hoping to remain in control of both lion and the natural process of weather is illogical. Any harm on Roy Bennett will be placed squarely on those responsible. We demand the unconditional release of Roy Bennett unharmed so that he can attend to his normal duties in the party, in government and to his family.
Please keep this story in the news. These men will only harm Roy if they think we are not looking and they are not feeling the pressure to do the right thing. Please keep Roy in your thoughts and check back here for updates soon.
Jan
12
From Reuters-
JOHANNESBURG, Jan 11 (Reuters) - South African Nobel peace laureate Desmond Tutu has called on all South Africans to join his weekly fasting in protest at the humanitarian crisis in neighbouring Zimbabwe, the 702 radio station reported on Sunday.
The 78-year-old Anglican archbishop said he had been fasting once a week in solidarity with the hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans facing food shortages and a cholera outbreak.
“If we would have more people saying ‘I will fast’ maybe one day a week, just to identify myself with my sisters and brothers in Zimbabwe,” the radio station quoted him as saying.
Zimbabweans are suffering from hyper-inflation and severe food, fuel and foreign currency shortages. Cholera has killed more than 1,800 people. (Reporting by Agnieszka Flak; Editing by Charles Dick)
Dec
18
Swedish Ambassador to Zimbabwe Sten Rylander said Wednesday in Harare that
Sweden is donating another US$5 million in funding for humanitarian relief
efforts in the country.
Correspondent Thomas Chiripasi of VOA’s Studio 7 for Zimbabwe reported from Harare.
The cholera epidemic continues to spread, meanwhile, though the state-controlled Herald newspaper said cases have declined since late November.
Member of Parliament Blessing Chebundo, representing Kwekwe, Midlands, for the MDC wing led by Morgan Tsvangirai, said that in house debate, Health Minister David Pariretyetwa said outbreaks have occurred in new locations including Chirundu and Chegutu.
Communications Officer Heron Holloway of the International Federation of Red Cross in Southern Africa told reporter Patience Rusere of VOA’s Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that new cases have fallen off in some areas, but there are new outbreaks in urban zones.
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Around 50,000 suspected of supporting the opposition have already been displaced from their homes. 65 have been killed so far. The opposition is forced to act like a banned organisation – its rallies are banned, access to TV and radio is severely curtailed.
Download the Human Rights Watch report on the political violence being perpetrated in Zimbabwe.