Tsvangirai: Why I Dropped Out

Union refusing to unload dangerous cargo destined for tense Zimbabwe

(NEWSER) - As tensions rise in Zimbabwe, a Chinese ship has arrived in a South African port with arms bound for Harare. The ship put to sea with AK-47 rifles, mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and millions of rounds of ammunition, apparently to fortify President Robert Mugabe, who's not relinquishing power despite his suspected loss in last month's presidential election. A South African politician called the shipment tantamount to "putting a fuse in a powder keg." More»

(NEWSER) - Robert Mugabe has backtracked on his denial of the Zimbabwean cholera crisis, AFP reports. “He is acknowledging there is a problem,” said a UNICEF official who met with him today. “He recognizes there is a problem with the water and the sewer systems.” The admission comes as opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai returned to the country, Voice of America reports. More»

Tsvangirai will become prime minister as parties come together

(NEWSER) - Zimbabwe's rival political parties signed their landmark power-sharing deal today, in which Robert Mugabe will remain president while Morgan Tsvangirai will take on the new position of prime minister. The two factions of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change will receive a majority of cabinet posts, including the ministries responsible for the economy and the police. But Mugabe will still have control of the army, reports Reuters. More»

Mugabe's candidate defeated as MDC's Moyo wins close parliamentary vote

(NEWSER) - Opposition groups in Zimbabwe's parliament today defeated the candidate for speaker put forward by President Robert Mugabe, electing instead a member of the Movement for Democratic Change, the Times of London reports. Though security forces arrested several MDC members ahead of the vote, MDC lawmakers sang anti-Mugabe songs in a parliament speaker Lovemore Moyo said will "cease to be a rubber stamping house." More»

Opposition leader detained in airport, passport yanked

(NEWSER) - Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of Zimbabwe's opposition, was detained at the airport in Harare today and prevented from flying to South Africa. Authorities confiscated his passport, as well as the travel documents of fellow members of the Movement for Democratic Change, before letting him leave. Tsvangirai was to attend a meeting with South African president Thabo Mbeki in an attempt to resolve the country's political crisis. More»