Stephen Chadenga

Western world cautiously welcomes swearing in of Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister

Western countries, particularly those in the European Union (EU) bloc and the United States of America, often blamed by the Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe regime for the economic collapse of the once prosperous Southern Africa through “sanctions” have thrown caution to wind in hailing the joining into unity government of Movement for Democratic Change leader, Morgan Tsvangirai as Prime Minister with Mugabe.

Power sharing agreement not perfect but workable says Tsvangirai

Zimbabwe’s new Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai speaking at his inauguration Wednesday says the power sharing agreement that saw him entering into a government of national unity with long time political rival Robert Mugabe is not the best but through commitment can be a feasible one.

Tsvangirai to be sworn in as Prime Minister Wednesday

Zimbabwe’s leader of the main Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Morgan Tsvangirai is set to be sworn in as the country’s Prime Minister this Wednesday along with two Deputy Ministers, Arthur Mutambara and Thokozani Khupe, as the three political parties, Zanu PF, MDC-Tsvangirai and MDC-Mutambara undertake to complete the formation of an inclusive government by Friday, February 13.

Close to 30,000 Zimbabwean teachers drop out of education system says aid agency

Zimbabwe’s education system in a deep abyss with little or no learning for the greater part of 2008 seems to have suffered a drain brain of about 30,000 teachers, according to the latest report of a British charity organization, Save the Children.

Zimbabwe central bank slashes 12 zeros from currency

Zimbabwe’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), has slashed 12 zeros from the local currency (Zimbabwe dollar), a move that will see the highest denomination of 100 trillion dollars revalued to 100 dollars, introducing new currency denominations, among other measures, in a bid to revamp the dilapidated economy.

Time to prioritise welfare of Zimbabweans says Tsvangirai

Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe’s 56 year old politician and leader of a political party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) that came close to end Zanu PF's 84 year old Robert Mugabe's grip on power since 1980 through the presidential ballot last March, has said time is ripe to put political differences aside and work for the good of Zimbabweans lives.

Zimbabwe’s MDC to enter into unity government?

Zimbabwe's main opposition political leader, Morgan Tsvangirai has reportedly finally agreed to enter into a government of national unity with long time rival 84-year-old Robert Mugabe of Zanu PF. The agreement was the result of a marathon meeting convened by the regional bloc, the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Monday to break the impasse between the two leaders amid reports of serious rifts in the MDC over the decision.

Zimbabwe’s fresh power sharing talks fail to end impasse

Decade long Zimbabwe political rivals, 84 year old Robert Mugabe of Zanu PF and Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Monday failed to compromise in new talks mediated by South Africa president, Kgalema Motlanthe, his predecessor Thabo Mbeki and Mozambican president, Armando Emilio Guebuza. Many Zimbabweans had hoped Monday’s dialogue would be the last effort to salvage the power sharing agreement signed last September and resuscitate the country’s economy in the doldrums for close to 10 years amid a cholera outbreak that has claimed over 2000 people since August last year.

MDC leader Tsvangirai back in Zimbabwe

The leader of the main opposition political party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) arrived in Zimbabwe Saturday after close to three months holed up in neighbouring Botswana. Robert Mugabe’s government had failed to issue him with a new passport for a long time. Tsvangirai, however said he was given the passport on Christmas day after waiting for six months.

Zimbabwe’s doctors, nurses refuse forex pay offer

Zimbabwe’s ailing health system, close to a decade now in the intensive care unit is facing total collapse after junior doctors and nurses, who put down their tools last October when their demands for new salaries pegged in United States dollars failed. They say their salaries can not possibly meet their monthly requirements.

Zimbabwe’s MDC denies allegations of internal split

Zimbabwe’s main opposition, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), led by Morgan Tsvangirai has Thursday denied allegations that the party is rocked by internal divisions saying the claims are the imagination of the state controlled media, particularly the daily newspaper The Herald. In a statement the party asserted “Zimbabweans will not be hoodwinked by shrill propaganda from a discredited newspaper that has since lost its credibility.”

Zimbabwe’s school term opening postponed by two weeks

Fears that the chaos that gripped the education sector in the greater part of 2008 might resurface in 2009, that saw little if any learning activity at schools and colleges, a continuous strike by teachers and lecturers at institutions of higher learning have been raised after government deferred the opening of the first term of 2009 from January Tuesday 13 to Tuesday 27.

Zimbabwe government fears cholera might worsen as rainy season peaks

The cholera epidemic, which has claimed more than 1600 lives in Zimbabwe, may worsen during the peak of the rainy season prompting government to launch an anti-cholera awareness programme. The rainy season which began in November usually peaks in January and ends late March.

Zimbabwe under siege from the West says Mugabe

Zimbabwe’s embattled 84 year old president Robert Mugabe increasingly under pressure from the international community to step down, as the country’s economic and social fortunes continue on a downturn has reiterated that the country is under siege from western countries, particularly led by Britain and America, determined to effect illegal regime change.

Bleak Christmas for Zimbabweans

The year 2008 has been the worst for majority Zimbabweans. With an economy that has degenerated to unprecedented levels in world history, acute poverty affecting ordinary people, a political crisis that has claimed many lives and 84-year-old geriatric Robert Mugabe refusing to relinquish power, ruling the country with an iron fist since 1980 and a political power sharing deal among feuding parties failing to come to fruition since the signing of the agreement in September, there is no Christmas to celebrate in this Southern African country, except maybe for a few carols for impoverished Christians at church.

Zimbabwe’s government still believes cholera a biological warfare

August 2008 is nightmarish to most Zimbabweans as it was then that a water-borne disease outbreak, that has to date wiped out close to 1,000 lives began. Never in the history of this once prosperous Southern African country did such a manageable epidemic as cholera spread at such magnitude. Due to the economic collapse that has seen urban sanitation facilities disintegrating, health delivery services decaying with major hospitals closing, doctors and nurses downing tools so do critics point to the manifestation of the pandemic spread. But government blamed for the ailing economy because of gross mismanagement is still in a state of denial instead, apportioning fault of the cholera outbreak on sanctions by Western countries, in general, and of late on biological warfare, in particular.

Zimbabwe’s army commander apologises for soldiers’ behavior

November 27 will forever be ingrained in the minds of ordinary Zimbabweans. Solders in uniform went on a rampage in the streets of Harare beating up innocent civilians, looting and damaging property in frustration over failure to withdraw cash from banks. Nobody anticipated that kind of riotous behavior from the militia, given the loyalty the army has bestowed to 84- year-old Robert Mugabe since 1980 when the country gained political independence from British colonial rule. On December 1, a group of solders again ran amok in the capital’s streets. Government attempted to downplay the gravity of the incidents by dismissing them as minor cases of failing discipline within the army ranks.

Whereabouts of kidnapped Zimbabwe’s female human rights activist still unknown

Wednesday, December 3, 2008 will never be the same again for the family of Jestina Mukoko-- a female rights activist and Director of Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), a Non- Governmental Organization involved in the monitoring and documentation of politically motivated violence. Mukoko, who once worked as a broadcaster at the state-owned monopoly, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) before turning to human rights activism, was abducted around 5.a.m. at her Norton home, about 45 km West of the capital Harare on that fateful day. About 15 men wielding guns pounced on her home after threatening the gardener at the gate, gained entry and bundled Jestina, who was coming from her bedroom still clad in a nightgown and without her spectacles. They drove away. Mukoko’s teenage son reportedly raised the alarm with human rights groups.

Zimbabwean soldiers run amok

Hare-Zimbabwe-The spate of uniformed soldiers who went on rampage in the capital Harare mid-last week and this Monday, over frustration from failure to withdraw cash at banks has raised eyebrows among the general public to the extent armed forces can remain loyal to the incumbent 84-year-old president Robert Mugabe as the economic and political meltdown continue to bite every facet of the economy in this Southern African country.

Zimbabwe Government puts cholera deaths at 425

That Zimbabwe is facing a major health crisis with the recent outbreak of cholera is no secret. The water borne disease has claimed many lives and critics argue the cause is a breakdown in most urban sanitation facilities- a direct consequence of the current economic meltdown. Government also repeatedily blame Western backed economic sanctions on the crisis, a charge western countries deny, instead blaming Mugabe's regime of destroying the country's economy through policy inconsistency. What is worrisome however is that when everybody, from the government itself, Non-Governmental Organisations and well wishers are putting notable efforts to contain the epidemic, conflicting statistics on the death toll from the disease have a potential to undermine the amount of input needed to address the health catastrophe.